THE Australian Conservatives will implement all 49 recommendations of the Parliamentary Inquiry into Regional Health Services under a MacKillop-specific policy announcement if elected after Saturday’s state election.
Following the party’s blueprint for rural and regional South Australia, the Conservatives have revealed an additional policy release exclusively for the blue-ribbon seat.
Urgent upgrades to roads, tougher penalties for drug manufacturers and boosting health services underpin the party’s three-page MacKillop policy.
Australian Conservatives candidate Robert Brokenshire (Legislative Council) and Richard Bateman (Lower House) said the policy was evidence of the party’s commitment to “make MacKillop matter”.
“Part of our strategy is to spend time in regional areas to find the issues important to the local community,” Mr Brokenshire said.
“Our time in the South East has highlighted health, mental health and road infrastructure, power prices, protecting arable farmland including banning fracking in the South East and tackling the drug problem as priorities for the region.
“Out of this relationship, we are committed to the following policies for MacKillop.”
The pair pledged to decentralise the state’s health system, creating two regional boards in the South East.
Under the party’s plan, the Millicent and District Hospital will be consolidated with Penola, Kingston, Bordertown, Keith and Naracoorte, with Naracoorte serving as the administrative hub and specialist services being supported with outside medical practitioners.
Mount Gambier would be managed by its own board, with Meningie forming part of the Murray Bridge region.
The completion of the Penola Bypass, improvement to Clay Wells Road and the construction of overtaking lanes between Mount Gambier and Keith top a list of roads needing urgent upgrades.
“To be competitive in today’s economy, industry relies on key road structure,” the document says.
“Industries within the Limestone Coast generate in excess of $4b in revenue where tax in turn is collected.
“Our road infrastructure is feeling the pressure from neglect during Labor’s reign.”
The Conservatives will also introduce a $24.4m palliative care policy, which includes $14m per year to support people in their final stage of life at home and $4m to ensure 24/7 care is available.
