WARD LAUNCHES PETITION TO MAKE WOLLONGONG HOSPITAL CAR PARKING FREE

Independent Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has launched an online Parliamentary Petition to make Wollongong Hospital Car Parking free. 

With Wollongong Hospital being a major teaching and referral hospital, Mr Ward said that people as far away as Ulladulla travel to Wollongong Hospital for treatment. 

Mr Ward called on Local Labor Members of Parliament, including the Minister for Health, Minister for Regional Health, and Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast, Minister for Illawarra Ryan Park, to get behind the call for free parking. 

The petition can be accessed here. 

“People in our hospitals should be focused on their healthcare, not their back pocket,” Mr Ward said. 

 “Whilst I welcome the bipartisan commitment around free parking at regional hospitals which was promised prior to the NSW State Election, I fail to understand why Wollongong hasn’t been included. 

 “Wollongong Hospital is our region’s flagship hospital. It’s used by people for major surgery from right around the Illawarra-Shoalhaven, not just those living in Wollongong. 

 “Whilst Mr Park is Minister for the Health, he’s also the Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast. In opposition, we heard a lot from Mr Park about how important it was to have an Illawarra Minister around the cabinet table, but so far it doesn’t seem to have done much good. 

“If not challenged, Labor will just take their ultra-safe Illawarra Labor seats for granted. Labor talked a big game in opposition, but now in government, they don’t seem to have delivered a single project, investment or promise. In fact, Labor government ‘reviews’ have delayed many of their so-called commitments. 

“You can send a message to Illawarra Labor MPs, including the very person that can make this decision by signing the online petition.  

“We need 20,000 people to sign this petition to have this matter debated in Parliament. I would welcome support from the Members for South Coast, Shellharbour and Heathcote given they are not members of Cabinet and aren’t bound by cabinet solidarity. 

MEDIA: Kiama Electorate Office (02) 4232 1082