Minister refuses to meet on country health woes, says Grylls

The Nationals WA have accused Health Minister Jim McGinty of dropping the ball on country health.

The Minister's recent refusal to meet with The Nationals over a replacement doctor for the Kununoppin Medical Service underlined his disinterest in regional health issues.

Mr McGinty won't talk to The Nationals WA about the impending retirement of a Wyalkatchem doctor that will leave a large portion of the North Eastern Wheatbelt and two public hospitals without a medical practitioner.

Unfortunately Mr McGinty has decided to play the blame game, claiming the provision of GP services is a Federal issue. [more]

Denmark residents turn to the bottle over water quality concerns

Stirling MLA Terry Redman has questioned the Minister for Water Resources over the quality of Denmark's drinking water, saying many local residents consider the water undrinkable and are turning to bottled water instead.

In Parliament last week, Mr Redman called on the Minister to reveal salinity levels in Denmark's unfiltered tap water, and said his response confirmed the validity of the community's concerns.

While not posing a health risk, Denmark's water plainly falls well short of the Water Corporation's commitment to providing a high quality product that consistently meets Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
 
Judging by the number of people who have raised this issue with Mr Redman, local water quality has become a real bug bear for residents and also for visitors to the town.

The Minister for Water Resources gave an assurance last week that the people of Denmark could have absolute certainty about their water quality, but anyone who tastes the local water would be entitled to question that assurance. [more]

Federal funds must go to Geraldton University

The Nationals education spokesman Grant Woodhams says the Federal Government must increase the amount of funds available to the Geraldton University Centre.

He says it is unacceptable that some students at the university were not getting face to face contact with staff.

Mr Woodhams said he will be contacting the new Federal Minister for Education, Julia Gillard to insist that Geraldton University Centre be given adequate financial resources to develop its courses.

Mr Woodhams said he had also met with the State Education Minister Mark McGowan and explained the circumstances of the Geraldton University campus. [more]

Leader outlines policy at WAFF conference

Leader of The Nationals WA Brendon Grylls outlined several key policies at the 2008 WAFF Annual Conference Business Breakfast in Perth this week.

Mr Grylls was asked to address the conference on the theme 'Agriculture - the new frontier' and used the opportunity to explain the new independent direction of The Nationals WA and how the new political landscape would affect those in the regions.

Mr Grylls received overwhelming support from the audience after outlining the party's Royalties For Regions policy.

[Brendon Grylls chats with WAFF past-President Trevor De Landgrafft (left) and new President Mike Norton(right) and Young Nationals President Martin Aldridge after delivering the keynote address at the 2008 WAFF Annual Conference Business Breakfast]