Separation of powers

I REFER to three related and highly relevant to the Healesville community articles in the Mail on 24 June.
The front page carried Jesse Graham’s story on the justified outrage of SHHAG at the State Government white-anting of their campaign for an independent business case study for the future of our hospital, by emailing the Mail with plans for a Health Department study.
This comes from a department and minister who have cancelled meetings at the last minute and continually delayed supplying information to SHHAG, so we can imagine how balanced and soon that study will be.
The second article, on page four, comes from the desk of our Federal Government member Tony Smith, announcing a Federal grant of $55,000 towards the truly independent study SHHAG are raising funds for.
The third article, by Kath Gannaway on page seven, relating to the success of independent Cathy McGowan in the seat of Indi at the last Federal election, displacing long time representative Sophie Mirabella.
With the announcement of Healesville resident Bruce Argyle’s independent candidature for the seat of Eildon at the upcoming state election and the attitude of the current state health minister, we are very likely heading for another independent candidate’s success.
The arrival in my letter box this week of issue two of Pulse from Eastern Health, “keeping me up to date”, with much chest thumping from the CEO, tells about what Eastern Health plans for our hospital.
As I recall, this same CEO, at the initial public meetings delivered a fait accompli that was far from what we are being told now.
I am sure this recent apparent change of attitude and much PR from Eastern Health would not have occurred without the community backlash and the formation of SHHAG, but I wonder how long it will last.
With the recent Yarra Ranges Council (YRC) decision to proceed with the closure of the Healesville tip, against the very vocal wishes of this community and the growing call for Healesville’s separation from YRC, there are some very significant lessons to be learnt from the Healesville Hospital situation.
When authorities ignore community attitudes expressed through so-called consultations, they do so at their peril.
A move for the rural wards to separate from YRC would have multiple benefits, as the new Eildon electorate is predominately rural, we would have our rural requirements far better served than now, a greater percentage of local rate revenue would be returned to the area and our hospital would then be firmly in rural territory.
John Anwin,
Healesville Action Group.