Greens clear the decks

The State Election is yet to be called but Greens Deputy Leader and Senator Larissa Waters will be in Noosa this month to endorse Joe Shlegeris as the Greens candidate for Noosa.
The campaign launch will be held at The J on Wednesday 25 January from 11am, where Mr Shlegeris will use the opportunity to also discuss local health care issues with Noosa parents and older residents.
Mr Shlegeris said his campaign was focused on “a number of local issues, with an intense focus on health care” and planned to call for complete maternity services at Noosa Hospital.
“Noosa has always needed complete maternity care. It was in the original plan for the Noosa Hospital but the state dropped it. Let’s aim high and work to get this essential service here in Noosa,” he said.
Mr Shlegeris is inviting young families and older residents to be a part of the health care discussion at the launch on Wednesday 25 January and said he wanted to hear from those impacted by local health services.
“Older citizens, many of whom are among the most intensely affected by the deterioration of local health care services, are warmly invited,” he said.
Mr Shlegeris said he was tired of Noosa residents not getting the health care services they deserved, with a range of patients having to travel to receive adequate care.
“We have to get our fair share of state government resources. For more than 10 years now we’ve been completely neglected. We can’t let the state’s new trophy hospital in Birtinya continue to suck health resources out of Noosa,” he said.
Mental health services, orthopaedic services and endoscopy and colonoscopy services for public patients are also in the Green firing line.
“Decent public health must be reasonably accessible – that means here in Noosa. Successive state governments have cut, cut, and cut again,” he said.
“We’re aiming high in trying to restore quality health care in Noosa. It’s a big job after so many years of neglect, but we must do it. The exhausted old parties will carry on ignoring us if they get the chance.”
Mr Shlegeris said he would also focus on important local issues such as Beckman’s Road, the neglected TAFE building, hulks in the river and local planning and population control.
“All of these issues have become huge issues because both LNP and Labor governments have treated Noosa with disdain,” he said.
“Neither Labor nor the LNP will be able to form a majority government at the next election. We’ve already seen at least one LNP member defect to One Nation. Whichever side cobbles together a government will do so only with the support of the crossbench. That’s why Noosa needs a strong, independent representative in State Parliament.
“Those electorates which have non-Labor, non-LNP representatives will be the ones with influence in the next state government. If we elect a local member from one of the exhausted old parties, we’ll just be accepting more of the same neglect.”
Anyone is welcome to attend Mr Shlegeris’s campaign launch on Wednesday 25 January from 11am at The J, Noosa Drive, Noosa Heads.