Macarthur MP says he is willing to ‘work with anyone’ to secure health services

Health services top of the agenda for opposition MP Dr Mike Freelander.

Macarthur MP Dr Mike Freelander has vowed to keep fighting for the region despite being in opposition. Picture: Robert Pozo

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Macarthur MP Dr Mike Freelander says improving local health services will remain one of his key priorities following the federal election.

Dr Freelander was returned to parliament with a slight increase of 0.1 per cent of the vote.

Labor pledged $10 millions to create a paediatric intensive care unit at Campbelltown Hospital and $2.5 million to help the Shepherd Centre establish a facility in Campbelltown during the election campaign.

Dr Mike Freelander was returned to the seat with a slight increase in his vote. Picture: Matthew Vasilescu

Dr Freelander is hopeful of working with the state and federal Liberal governments to still deliver on these commitments.

“I’m willing to work with any side of politics to get these things done and my job will be to continue advocating for our community, I don’t care who I have to work with,” he said.

“Early on I had some discussions with the health service people about the paediatric intensive care beds and I have to say the response was reasonable, it wasn’t a denial.

“Generally there’s a lot of support for increased paediatric services.”

Dr Freelander said government should come on board to help bring the Shepherd Centre to Campbelltown.

The centre, which helps deaf children learn to communicate, unveiled plans late last year to establish a $6.8 million facility on Moore St but was in need of government support to get the project off the ground.

Then-shadow treasurer Chris Bowen (R), Macarthur MP Mike Freelander and Hume Labor candidate Aiofe Champion announce $10 million for a Paediatric ICU at Campbelltown Hospital during the election campaign. Picture: Matthew Vasilescu

“It would make a huge difference for kids with significant hearing loss if they could get that specialised treatment,” he said

“We shouldn’t be modest about this, the Shepherd Centre provides the best treatment for children with hearing loss in the world... the fact we could have them in Campbelltown would make such a huge difference to local families.

“I’m hoping that on a completely bipartisan basis they can get support from state and federal government, I’ll certainly be pushing it and will be keen to work with anyone willing.”

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Dr Freelander said he would also continue to advocate for free parking at Campbelltown Hospital and for infrastructure to be expedited in the region, particularly the North-South Rail Link to the Western Sydney Airport and the Maldon Dombarton freight line to the Illawarra.