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Health | May 03, 2017

Outrage – Broken promise to Cancer patients

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy MP is outraged that the Andrews Labor Government has broken its promise and failed to provide additional funding for the Wimmera Cancer Centre in the 2017-18 State Budget.

In May 2016, the Health Minister promised our community the Government was prepared to allocate extra funding if needed and said: “If you don’t get there, we will, we’re going to build this. This project is not going to stop if the community fundraising falls short.”

“Minister Hennessy looked local cancer patients in the eye while receiving treatment and promised she would provide additional funding to build the Wimmera Cancer Centre if required,” Ms Kealy said.

“Sadly, not all of these patients are still with us today and that additional funding would have gone a long way to providing our community with the knowledge that future patients will have access to the best support available,” she said.

Ms Kealy launched a petition to give community members the chance to voice calls for the Health Minister to provide the additional $1.5 million required to make the Wimmera Cancer Centre a reality.

“It’s extremely disappointing this vital project for people seeking cancer treatment, dialysis and palliative care in the Wimmera is now at risk of being delivered in a staged approach,” Ms Kealy said.

“We desperately need the Wimmera Cancer Centre to include dialysis and palliative care to provide essential health services for the region, ensuring that locals can access the care they need locally during very difficult times.

“Country Victoria should feel completely ripped off by Daniel Andrews’ city-centric Labor Government, which has continually made excuses to delay or abandon projects in regional Victoria.

“We all deserve quality services, whether we live in the city or the country, and it is important country communities are provided with first-class facilities.

“I urge local people to support my petition which will continue to send a clear message to the Minister that we will not accept her broken promise to local cancer, dialysis and palliative care patients.

“Copies of the Wimmera Cancer Centre petition are available at my Electorate office by phoning 5382 0097 or 5571 9800 and on my website www.emmakealy.com,” she said.