The quantity of food placed in the various “trolleys” (kindly built by the Men’s Shed) was enormous and enable us, on behalf of OzHarvest, to make up hampers to distribute to the less fortunate in our community.

I can assure you these hampers were much appreciated by the recipients.

Thanks again for your generosity.

THE NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) is disappointed by the NSW government’s failure to address the need for nurse-to-patient ratios in the 2018-19 Budget.

The government's welcome investments in healthcare would need to be matched by more nurses and midwives to ensure patients receive the best care.

The 950 new nursing positions announced in the NSW State Budget is a step in the right direction, but nurses and midwives urgently need safe staffing levels. That means better, more transparent nurse-to-patient ratios.

NSW public hospitals are facing more patient admissions without enough staffing to meet the demand.

Introducing ratios across the state would guarantee there are enough nurses and midwives to give patients the best possible care.”

The NSW government has also failed to clarify where the 950 new nurses will be based, and what skill mix they will have.

Nurses and midwives on the frontline are already run off their feet. How will the government guarantee they will be supported in the future?

This band-aid fix is barely enough to deal with the current staffing stresses in hospitals. It is certainly not enough to deal with the growing demand on our health services in the years to come.

International research backs the need for nurse-to-patient ratios – why is this government still resisting something guaranteed to improve patient care? Only nurse-to-patient ratios can deliver the best outcome for the people of NSW.

In mid-February, 145 locals wrote personalised letters to federal MP for Farrer, Ms Sussan Ley. Some were hand-written, some typed, some detailed, some brief. All were delivered to her office by a long queue of people. Four months on and Ms Ley hasn’t replied to any of them. 

They weren’t writing for personal gain, but for the common good and a clean future. They wanted to know why Ms Ley and her government are bending over backwards to support the Adani Carmichael coal mine. Why is the government stealthily providing concessional loans to support a corrupt overseas billionaire? Why are they allowing free, unlimited water when everyone else must pay? Why are they risking our country, our climate, our reef and our water. And why are they persisting with the 11,000 jobs myth when Adani’s admitted it’s only 1500. 

Yes, these are difficult questions for a government representative. However when constituents put time and effort into writing letters, decent democratic protocols require the courtesy of a considered reply.