Port Kembla Hospital protest
By Marg Perrott
WOLLONGONG — More than 300 people marched from Warrawong to the Port Kembla Hospital on February 26 to protest against the closure of the accident and emergency (A&E) department. There has been a 24-hour picket at the hospital since January 1.
Participants passed a motion to continue the picket and occupation of the A&E department until the protesters receive a satisfactory answer from NSW minister for health, Craig Knowles.
Protest spokesperson Olive Rodwell reminded the rally that Knowles was the minister for planning in the state Labor government which passed special legislation to hinder protests against the Port Kembla copper smelter. "It is the minister for health who has pushed pollution and poor health onto us and who is closing our hospital", she said. Faith in the NSW ALP government is at an all-time low in the southern suburbs of Wollongong.
South Coast Labor Council secretary and ALP member Paul Matters said the reasons behind the closure of the A&E department were that the state government "wants to close public services in safe ALP seats" to pay for the Olympic Games", and that "specialist doctors dominate the Illawarra Area Health Service board".
The leaderships of the NSW Nurses Association and the Hospital and Research Employees Association had agreed to the closure of the A&E department against the wishes of their members and the community, Matters said.
Supporters are encouraged to visit the picket line at the Port Kembla Hospital.