Batemans Bay Hospital petition meeting ‘s---show’ as politicians walk out

A major community event to hand over a petition to keep a south coast hospital open quickly turned into a “sh-tshow”, as local members left early.

Bega MP Michael Holland walking out as a petition was handed to NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman.

An event presenting a petition with nearly 18,000 signatures calling to keep a south coast hospital open has been labelled a “s---show”, after local elected members left early.

The meeting – held at the Batemans Bay Soldiers Club on Monday evening – was organised by community group “Don’t Close the Batemans Bay Hospital”, a campaign created after the revelation the bay hospital would close once the new level four Eurobodalla Hospital was constructed nearly 30km south of the town.

A petition to keep the ED open and save Batemans Bay from becoming the largest regional centre in NSW without a hospital reached a staggering 17,889 signatures.

The event on Monday saw the petition handed over to the NSW government, however drama quickly arose.

Campaign organiser Peter Ryan said the event was supposed to be a great moment for the town, however it became a “s---show”.

The petition was handed to the NSW Government on Monday evening.

The comments came after federal Gilmore MP Fiona Phillips and state Bega MP Dr Michael Holland left the event early.

Mr Ryan, along with other attendees of the event, claimed as Mrs Phillips left the auditorium, she turned and loudly accused the organisers of the meeting of engaging in a “stunt”.

Gilmore MP Fiona Phillips at the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic.

“My understanding was the petition was to be presented to local elected representatives, however when that did not happen and it became obvious the meeting was a political stunt, I left,” Mrs Phillips told The South Coast News.

While Dr Holland and Mrs Phillips were in attendance, the petition was ultimately handed to NSW Opposition Leader, Mark Speakman, who visited the area from Sydney.

“As I left the meeting through the main auditorium door, I said the meeting was ‘shameful’, which it was,” Mrs Phillips said.

Signs for the petition can be found around Batemans Bay.

“The failure of the organiser Peter Ryan to moderate the meeting, the continued heckling and misogynistic comments by some community members was totally unacceptable behaviour.”

Mrs Phillips – who recently opened the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic GP service in Batemans Bay – said she was exploring the idea of having the facility open 24/7 if the ED closed.

However, Mr Speakman said this was not enough, telling The South Coast News following the event the NSW Liberals supported the ED remaining open in the regional town of 20,000.

“Batemans Bay will still need a local ED even when a new level four Eurobodalla Hospital opens,” he said.

“If the ED were to close, Batemans Bay would be the largest regional centre in NSW without an ED.”

However, Dr Holland explained why the hospital needed to close during his speech at the event, noting the $260m Eurobodalla Hospital would need to be downgraded to a level three or two, losing facilities like ICU.

“Keeping Batemans Bay Hospital open will maintain the status quo of a divided level two or three service,” he said.

“It will not improve the health service of the Eurobodalla and you will not receive a level four service.”

The petition and question of whether to close the Batemans Bay ED will soon be debated in the NSW parliament.