Well one can't help but notice that the first of the electoral posters have begun to decorate the highways and the by-ways of the Southern Highlands. First of the candidates peering out at us commoners is the Liberal candidate, Pru Goward. Scraping in by just a few votes in the last election she was not quite the attraction the Liberal organisation had been expecting. Especially after she was parachuted into the safe seat to the dismay of some of the local Party contenders including the previous member's "gofor", and the CEO of the Southern Highlands Division of General Practice who, I'm reliably informed, had loftier aspirations.
While it's still early days and the Labor candidate is yet to be anointed the local field is showing a dearth of willing hands to nominate. Clearly, Labor is going to the Opposition benches in the next election and, on the basis of polls, the Liberals will make a meal of the electoral seats up for grabs. But should we break out the sparkling wines and cold beers (or even Southern Comfort!) to celebrate? After all what have the Liberals been offering to do for the health services to date: Well not much more than what has been done already by the Labor Federal and State governments.
When we have had public meetings about health services in the Southern Highlands, Pru Goward has wheeled in Jillian Skinner (Opposition spokesperson on Health) who has played to the crowd and whipped up their enthusiasm but then left them to charge the SSWAHS barricades. There has been very little follow-up by Jillian Skinner or Pru Goward to ensure that their support is felt in the local community. This does seem to suggest that, when in power, a NSW Liberal government's good intentions might just as likely disappear in the smoke and mirrors show produced by any incumbent government.
Yes, it is still early days, but so far we have heard and seen more about health changes from the current State Labor government than we have seen from the Liberal opposition.
Last election, besides the two major parties we had the Greens and the Independents. I recall that Pru Goward was nearly beaten by an Independent, Paul Stephenson, Mayor of Goulburn at the time.
So far, only one Independent candidate has been identified. Rob Parker, a local Civil Engineer has responded to John Hatton's call to have more parliamentary governance through Independent members in the NSW Parliament. With his wife being a local general practitioner I'm hoping that if Mr Parker does succeed in this electoral seat, he will have his wife nudging his elbow every time there is a need to do something to improve the local health service in order to be able to provide the optimal service for this community. A new hospital in the Southern Highlands to provide the range of health services provided elsewhere would be a great start!
This year, Socrates, like others in this community will be listening with interest to the promises that all budding politicians make. Having been around for a number of years and helped vote in (and out) several State and Federal governments over those years, I have acquired a nose for the smell of smoke and bullshit. This year's NSW State election could see me break with tradition and avoid casting a vote for either major parties in favour for the Independents or the Greens.
To all Party contenders and Independents: Show me what you are prepared to do for the Southern Highlands community in the next parliamentary term, rather than what you promised to do in the last one but didn't manage to achieve (because of the GFC or droughts or flooding rain). If you say you can deliver better health and better health facilities in the Southern Highlands in the next parliamentary term show the proof before the election date. Then, and only then, will I vote for you.
