Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has declined an invitation to attend tomorrow’s Town Hall meeting on the Southern Hospital, a decision Mayor Jules Radich says is “unsurprising but disappointing”.
“I think it is an opportunity missed. There are some pretty switched on presenters. There is also a pretty fired up public. I think Minister Reti would have benefitted a lot had he been able to come.
“There is no doubt he would have learnt some valuable information that his officials are probably not telling him. He would have gained both hard facts and public perspectives that are important to inform the decisions he must soon make.
“I find it unsurprising but nevertheless disappointing. Here we are seven years along the track with this project and the key decision maker is unable to find the time to listen to our point of view – even though the hospital is for us, the people of the South. Our taxes are paying for this hospital.
“We will send him a very crisp, very no-nonsense statement from the rally instead.”