Queensland Party continues fight for Far North health needs

The Queensland Party Candidate for Cairns, Darren (DJ) Hunt has called on the government to stop the double talk on the Cairns alternate hospital issue.

Mr Hunt said “Both parties have ignored the Cairns and Far North region for too long and that is why we had to take the stand we did and stick up for the people of Far North Queensland. The threat of Cyclone Yasi showed us just how vulnerable we are to natural disasters, highlighting the need to identify an alternate location. The Queensland Party has been then lone voice on this issue and will continue to be so until the other parties see sense.”

“With no voice for the Far North, the Queensland Party commenced an e-petition for an alternate hospital site. This was tabled in parliament and is still available for people to have their voice heard. If people want to have a functional hospital in times of disaster we need to address this issue. The Premier’s claims that a physiotherapists office can be used as a hospital is nonsense.”

Mr Hunt who has a long involvement with emergency services and disaster management planning in the region says the Queensland Party has based their stand on this issue on the principles of disaster management and preparedness.

Mr Hunt stated “From a purely disaster management mitigation and preparedness point of view we need to identify and alternate site. It is imperative that we select a site that is safe in terms of disaster risk and that also allows for the future growth of our area. We are calling on people to follow the link http://bit.ly/eTjB6h and sign our E-petition for the benefit and safety of our region.”