9 hours Ago By Anthony Bunn
Liberal Party election candidates for Farrer and Indi have confirmed they will not be attending a or signup to continue reading Sussan Ley and James Trenery will not be in Albury on the evening of Wednesday, April 16, when the event for poll contenders is held. Similarly, Labor's Farrer hopeful Glen Hyde said he would be absent from the Albury Entertainment Centre for the forum. Ms Ley responded to via a spokesman.
"Whilst Ms Ley will not be at the forum, she continues to advocate strongly for better health and hospital services in Albury and against the utter neglect and inaction of state and federal Labor governments in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra," he said. There will be a debate between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition leader Peter Dutton that night, April 16, but the spokesman was unable to say exactly where Ms Ley will be. Mr Trenery was clear about where he would be.
"I will not be attending the Border Better Health forum next Wednesday, as I have a long standing commitment to attend ," Mr Trenery said. He then criticised his rival, indepedent Indi MP Helen Haines, for neglecting health services, pointing to a fall in bulk billing services and the lack of a Medicare under care clinic in the North East. Mr Hyde said it was unfortunate the date clashed with a planned trip to the far west of Farrer.
"That's a bit of bad luck that I'm already booked in for Wentworth on the same day, but they've got my statement and there's not much more I could add in person," Mr Hyde said. He hopes the comments will be read out to the audience at the forum. They defend the Labor government's commitment to health funding and note it is the primary responsibility of Victoria and NSW to bankroll Albury Wodonga Health which administers the Twin Cities hospitals.
"The Albanese government recognises the unique cross border health service delivery arrangements in Albury-Wodonga and the important contribution Albury Wodonga Health provides to both local and surrounding communities," Mr Hyde wrote in his statement. "I support the ongoing cross-border agreement for delivery of health services; however, its future is a matter for the NSW and Victorian governments." Labor candidate for Indi Mitch Bridges could not say if he would be at the forum.
Better Border Health director Stan Stavros said "not showing up for the community is not going to be a good look" but nevertheless there had already been a strong response to the forum. "We're at 160 (reservations) as it stands now and it only went up at 6pm yesterday," Mr Stavros said on Monday April 7. "Health is right up there as a concern, everybody is interested in it and we're going to be focusing on , we're looking at things like the NDIS, aged care and mental care.
"There's a big appetite to hear what the candidates have to say." A cap of 250 had been put on attendance at the forum, but Mr Stavros said there was scope to increase that number. Daily Today's top stories curated by our news team.
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