Armidale Hospital petition reaches goal of 10,000 signatures

Member for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay confirmed last week that the goal of 10,000 signatures required for the Armidale Hospital petition has been met.
The Armidale Dumaresq, Guyra, Uralla and Walcha communities were asked to sign the petition to force debate in the Legislative Assembly to secure Federal and State Government joint funding of the $50 million major upgrade to Armidale Hospital.
With just over a fortnight remaining until Parliament resumes for 2012, Mr Torbay said he was looking forward to the petition being tabled on the first sitting day of 14 February then set down for a formal debate.
"The community has really supported this call for the major upgrade and I'm really pleased we can now started the new sitting year with this important issue front and centre," Mr Torbay said. "By collecting and tabling more than 10,000 signatures, the subject of the petition is set down as an order of the day for discussion by the Legislative Assembly.
"Given the Commonwealth rejected the State Government's first application I will be seeking support for another application for funding from the Federal Health and Hospital Fund to undertake the $50 million major upgrade of Armidale Hospital.
"I thank everyone who signed the petition and especially those individuals, organisations and businesses who kept arriving at my office with piles of signed petitions – especially staff from the New England Mutual, UNE,Colleges, Dr Aumony Forsyth and Armidale Hospital staff, Rosemary and John Johnston, Richard Lee and the students from TAS.
"There were many other people who went out and collected signatures and the response gives both Governments a good indication of the strong community support behind this action."
Mr Torbay expected the matter to be discussed in the first sitting week of 2012.