How to view Rural Health Inquiry

A webcast will allow Northern Rivers residents prevented by COVID-19, health or distance issues to view the Lismore hearing of NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Health and Hospital Services in rural, regional and remote NSW next month.

RURAL HEALTH INQUIRY: When the Lismore session of the NSW Parilmentary Inquury into Health Services in Rural, Regional and Remote NSW is held in June, 2021, it will be webcast so as many people as possible can safely attend.

With more than 700 submissions, there was no doubt that country residents are vitally interested in the New South Wales Parliamentary Inquiry into Health and Hospital Services in Rural, Regional and Remote NSW next month.

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin said she has lobbied hard for the NSW Rural Health Inquiry’s Lismore hearing to be webcast on Thursday June 17.

“This is a good win because all locals, together with all residents of rural and regional

NSW need to have access to their parliament and its processes,” Ms Saffin said.

“I lobbied for this Inquiry to sit in our electorate of Lismore and it is important that as

many people as possible get to hear testimony from individuals and organisations

who made submissions about their experience of the health system.”

Ms Saffin said the Inquiry had already held hearings in Deniliquin and Cobar, both of which were not webcast.

“I understand that the transcripts then took over a week to be released publicly,” she said.

“This was unacceptable to many country people and media outlets, so my colleague,

NSW Shadow Minister Health Ryan Park raised these concerns directly with the

Chief Executive of the Department of Parliamentary Services.

“In light of the high level of public interest in the Inquiry’s work, the committee,

chaired by Labor MLC Greg Donnelly, now will be trialling the live webcasting of its

hearings in Dubbo on Wednesday May 19.”

It was understood there was also a trial webcast in Wellington yesterday (Tuesday, 18 May).

The Inquiry was established on September 16, 2020 to inquire into and report on health outcomes and access to health and hospital services in rural, regional and remote NSW and has received more than 700 submissions from people across NSW.

Live stream details: https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Pages/webcasts.aspx