There was a lot of back-slapping going in NSW Parliament on Thursday.

After Kiama MP Gareth Ward revelled in announcing a PET scan machine was on its way to Wollongong Hospital, his Illawarra colleagues rose, one by one, from both sides of the chamber, to make sure their support was recorded.

Wollongong MP Noreen Hay even joked that Mr Ward’s speech had stumped her – she was ready to pile pressure on her foe when he shocked her with the news.

But this was a day when people power triumphed and politics was put to one side for the greater good. 

It was a rare show of solidarity welcomed by the Illawarra community who had fought so hard for a $3 million PET scan machine.

Not one whisper of criticism has surfaced.

Professor Philip Clingan, the medical brain behind the campaign, says the PET scanner will save 400 patients a year a trip to Sydney for scans. 

It means the region has the latest cancer detection and treatment technology available.

‘‘This is a whole community effort. It’s great news. We don’t want to fall behind the times, we want to be up there with the best,’’ Prof Clingan said.

No one – not even our opposing politicians – will disagree with that.