LABOR REFUSES TO RULE OUT SALE OF DAVID BERRY HOSPITAL

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has condemned NSW Labor for failing to rule out the sale of David Berry Hospital.

Whilst locals packed the public gallery, the Minister for Health and the so-called Minister for the Illawarra and South Coast was conspicuously absent from the debate.

Today, Mr Ward gave notice of a bill to amend the David Berry Hospital Act to prohibit a future sale.

“Ryan Park should be ashamed of himself. Locals travelled hours to hear yesterday’s debate but he couldn’t travel one floor from his office and front our local community. How embarrassing and gutless.

“The motion I moved to rule out the sale was exactly the same motion moved by the former Labor Member for Kiama Bob Harrison on 21 April 1994, almost 30 years ago to the very day. And this Labor Government voted against it.

“This property was gifted to the people of our region by the Berry Family in 1889, and now Labor refuses to rule out its subdivision and sale.

“It was incredibly disappointing to see the Labor Members for Shellharbour and South Coast defending their government’s refusal to rule out the sale.

“Whilst the overwhelming majority of the cross- bench voted to block the sale, to my shock, the Greens backed Labor in refusing to rule out the sale. Local Greens members will be disappointed to learn their Macquarie Street standard-bearers aren’t joining with our community in seeking to rule out the sale.

“Today in the House, I gave notice of a bill to amend the David Berry Hospital Act 1906 (NSW) to prohibit the sale of the David Berry Hospital. I will seek to bring on a vote on this bill as soon as possible. My petition opposing this sale remains active on my website and encourage people to continue to sign and send a message to Minns, Park and local Labor MPs that David Berry Hospital is not for sale,” Mr Ward concluded.