TWO Tamworth proposals will have a direct impact on the way the Nationals approach palliative care and telephone health services across state and federal politics.
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The NSW Nationals’ annual general conference was held in Tweed Heads over two days, during which there were strong representations by the Tamworth Nationals branch and local MPs.
Tamworth branch chairman Russell Webb said the local group had put forward two motions, which “got up with unanimous support”.
“The first called on the NSW Nationals to support better and more equitable access to palliative care in the home setting for all who needed it in rural and regional Australia,” Mr Webb said.
“That was presented by Lucy Haslam, who gave an address that was quite moving. It got up without any trouble at all.”
The Tamworth Nationals also called for the rollout of telephone health services in rural and regional areas to be boosted, including for mental health telephone services.
“Jim Booth from [Tamworth mental health service provider] RichmondPRA presented that one, and it also got up unanimously,” Mr Webb said.
“The representatives at the conference were thrilled the motions went through with full support.”
Mr Webb said it had been a conscious decision by the Tamworth Nationals to select two health-related motions.
“The submissions were made at the Tamworth branch monthly meeting, and the motions were formulated and put together based on the needs identified in the local community,” he said.
“They’ll now go to the parliamentary team at both the state and federal levels to determine a position on them and work out how to get positive outcomes.
“This is grassroots democracy at work, the grassroots of the Nationals who are able to put forward recommendations to parliamentarians, who then act on them in the future.
“It’s up to them to determine how they can put those recommendations into practice.”
Mr Webb said there had been a host of local Nationals politicians at the event, including Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall and New England MP Barnaby Joyce.
He said it was also “great to see the younger generation becoming actively involved in the Nationals and putting forward their views, which in itself is great in politics in state and nation”.
