Another hectic week in the fight for a new Griffith hospital saw Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) managers launch a counter attack “truth” campaign through social media highlighting “improvements” in Griffith Base Hospital over the past five years.
The results of our poll revealed 93 per cent of MIA respondents see the truth campaign as “lies and spin”, with 7 per cent believing it.
Among those who see the “truth” campaign as spin came some powerful and provocative quotes.
Alan Jones, radio broadcaster
“Isn’t Piccoli your local member – useless, absolutely useless… [Griffith] locals need to show they’re not going to let government take services away – not now, not tomorrow, not ever.”
Bill Calabria, Calabria Family Wines
“My whole family is from this area. When I was a child, all the health services were here. It was rare that anyone had to go to Sydney for treatment”.
“We are supposed to be a city. Why do we keep moving backwards? One surgeon for 80,000 people is just disgusting.”
Melissa Barton, photographer
“A town without a hospital is a town that slowly dies”
Dr John Binks, former doctor at Griffith base hospital
"Now in 2017, orders from another committee has been sent to decimate our department. How incredibly stupid."
Jenna Woodland, rally organiser
"This is just the beginning, we have shown what we can do when we stand together, now we need to fight together”.
The Save Griffith Base Hospital committee said this time Griffith should not accept a vague promise of future funds for one stage of hospital upgrades – as happened on the Premier’s previous visit – but push for full budget allocation and a timeline on how and when a new hospital will be built.
The committee urges residents to show government this message by attending a peaceful protest at the Yambil st entrance of Griffith Exies on Thursday morning at 8.45am – just before the NSW premier and her Cabinet arrive there for a morning tea as part of their community Cabinet in Griffith.
Oliver Jacques
Moved to Griffith as a refugee from Sydney traffic and housing prices. Previously freelanced for The Guardian, ABC, SBS and Daily Telegraph. Email story ideas to oliver.jacques@fairfaxmedia.com.au
Moved to Griffith as a refugee from Sydney traffic and housing prices. Previously freelanced for The Guardian, ABC, SBS and Daily Telegraph. Email story ideas to oliver.jacques@fairfaxmedia.com.au
