SA nurses fight health cuts

by Richard Stone

On Saturday, September 18, the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) in South 
Australia, together with other health workers and professionals organised a 
protest action against funding cuts which have seriously affected levels of 
health care throughout the State.

Gail Gago, State Secretary of the ANF, speaking at the rally on Victoria 
Square, Adelaide, criticised the Olsen Government's $46 million cut in 
heath funding and called for more expenditure to provide adequate health 
care.

Ms Gago described the decision by the Olsen Government as "tight-fisted and 
uncaring".

Outlining the already precarious position of health care throughout SA, Ms 
Gago spoke of the many effects of cuts and the declining number of beds 
available for essential cases. (See box below.)

Paying tribute to the Flinders Medical Centre workers who recently fought 
closures with militant industrial action, she demanded that the SA 
Government make health care "a number one priority".

Ms Gago spoke of the "political spinelessness of the Olsen Government" and 
called for an end to subsidies for private health insurance and a return to 
the basic principles of Medicare.

"We demand social justice, equity and fairness", she said, to rousing 
applause.

Carol Hannah of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Action Group spoke of the 
problems in the western suburbs where low income earners were faced with 
cuts affecting child delivery services.

Ward closures were resulting in long travelling times to hospital 
facilities for expectant mothers and visiting families.

There was an urgent need for "meaningful community consultation", Carol 
Hannah said.

They then marched along King William Street through the centre of Adelaide 
carrying publicity balloons, placards and banners, together with agit prop 
sketches.

Then onto Parliament House steps, for speakers: Rob Bonner of the health 
workers; Mike Elliot of the SA/Democrats; Annette Hurley, Shadow Deputy 
Health spokesperson; and Michael Grimes of the SA Medical Officers' 
Association.

Finally at Elder Park the demonstration had the opportunity of listening to 
TransAdelaide Brass Band and enjoying a sausage sizzle.

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