MISSING PLATFORMS
I was pleased to read Alice Scott's letter in the Illawarra Mercury 'The Root of the Problem' (February 20) where she, as the chairperson of the Illawarra Dental Health Action Group expressed her disappointment in saying "once again, to see Labor have made no mention of dental should they be re elected at the Federal election". In a recent edition of The Senior, the Seniors United Party of Australia outlined a summary of policies for seniors. The second line stated "Health eg basic dental treatment on Medicare". Other health failures of both Labor and Liberal parties are covered by SUPA which supports registered nurses being in nursing homes 24/7, with stricter inspections of nursing homes to force them up to a satisfactory standard.
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To highlight Labor's difficulty in raising the standards of nursing homes if it gains government is the fact old Labor Federal Ministers are now running nursing home companies. BUPA which has a nursing home in our region and which has been criticised in the Illawarra Murcury in the last year for failing to be up to standard is, according to the NSW nurses and midwives' association magazine 'The Lamp' headed by Nicola Roxon, one of former Labor prime minister Julia Gillard' s federal ministers.
BUPA seems to be hard at work to pull standards in nursing homes down. Major improvements in nursing homes under a Labor Federal government won't happen. A similar problem is seen in the Liberal party. The state Liberal government's Kathryn Greiner inquiry into retirement village bullying by village operators resulted in recommended reforms, but what residents wanted was an independent ombudsman. An ombudsman would allow residents to deal with operators on an equal footing. The Liberals could not have that. So battles between residents and operators can end in costly legal battles, which few residents can win. SUPA will continue to push for a well resourced ombudsman for retirement villages. If Alice and other seniors wants Labor to care more, seniors need to give Labor a message.
Bob Patrech, Illawarra Contact, Seniors United Party of Australia
UNSURPRISING PROTEST
In response to the page five article, 'Petition calls for Ramsay deal rejection' (Illawarra Mercury,February 16, 2019), we should not be surprised by the protest against the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation. The left-wing students union and alumni presented their petition to UOW management because they hate Western Civilisation, even while they enjoy the benefits of it.
The left's opposition to the Ramsay Centre is understandable because it interferes with the socialist indoctrination of university students. The concern about transparency is just a smoke-screen. The left who control the education system "particularly universities" do not want either the truth and/or the enormously positive benefits of Western Civilisation to be taught.
Adrian Devlin, Fairy Meadow
Letters on election issues must bear the name and full address of the writer(s). Responsibility for election comment in this issue is accepted by Illawarra Mercury editor Julian O'Brien, 77 Market St, Wollongong. Writers should disclose any alliance with a political organisation. Election candidates should declare themselves when submitting letters.
