OPINION – ALI CUPPER
On Monday, Mildura Council announced it could no longer afford to stay in the game of providing aged and disability care. This was a backward step for clients and workers.
The public sector wages and conditions enjoyed by council staff promoted retention and continuity, which was good for clients. Reliable, well-paid jobs are good for the broader economy too.
No doubt there are some excellent private and community-based organisations that will help fill the void, but the fact remains that people and profit sometimes don’t mix. As our hospital privatisation showed, it’s a risky gamble to make when vulnerable citizens are concerned.
But try not to be tempted to blame the council, because it’s not at fault. There’s only so far existing funding can stretch. And local ratepayers are already maxed out. The cashflow problems originate from higher up and can only be fixed by the joint political will of State and Federal governments.
The Victorian Government has come to the table. It wants to negotiate. Now it’s up to the feds to take a seat. Tick, tock.
The other big issue this week was Mildura Base Public Hospital’s pitch for an academic health precinct. This would see us become a centre of excellence for rural and remote medicine. It would be a drawcard for medical students across the state, nation and indeed the world. And would help future-proof our isolated community against worker shortages.
It is the State Government’s role to build new hospitals. And the Federal Government’s role to build academic health precincts. The question is, will they work together for the benefit of our community? In question time this week, the Victorian Minister for Health said he was willing to come to the table to negotiate a funding partnership with the Federal Government. Hopefully the Federal Government comes to the party and takes a seat. We’re waiting with bated breath.
