Legislative Council president Craig Farrell taken to hospital after falling ill in state parliament
After becoming unwell in state parliament and rushed to hospital, Legislative Council president Craig Farrell says “all is good now” as he prepares for surgery >>
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After becoming unwell in state parliament yesterday and subsequently hospitalised, Legislative Council president Craig Farrell says “all is good now”.
Mr Farrell, the Labor member for the upper house seat of Derwent, was taken to hospital on Thursday, following a discussion with Labor’s health spokesman, Bastian Seidel, a general practitioner.
The 10-year veteran of the Legislative Council posted an update on his personal Facebook page last night, thanking people for their well-wishes.
“All is good now and following some minor surgery tomorrow everything will be back to normal,” he said.
“I have a blockage to the pancreas that caused quite a pain. The ambulance crew and the nurses are fantastic and have looked after me in an exceptional way.”
Update from the President #politashttps://t.co/Mk2LubTSFGpic.twitter.com/nTbWcctm3W
— Alex Johnston (@swegen31) June 24, 2021
Thursday, June 25:
Legislative Council president Craig Farrell has been taken to hospital after being taken unwell at state parliament.
Mr Farrell reported feeling unwell around midday.
After consulting with Labor’s health spokesman, general practitioner Bastian Seidel, an ambulance was called and Mr Farrell was taken to hospital.
“He was taken unwell and as a precaution was taken to hospital to be monitored,” a spokesman said.
Mr Farrell was returned as the Member for Derwent last month at the LegCo elections.
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In her inaugural speech in state parliament on Wednesday, Ms Johnston spoke of her passion for justice, fairness and integrity and of the alternating hope and frustration that have been motivating factors throughout her life.
The former Glenorchy mayor was elected as the member for Clark at the May 1 state election.
She said it was time for change in Tasmania.
“We can stop throwing more and more money at an acute health system that continues to fail and instead invest in keeping people well,” she said.
“We can stop the urban sprawl and start thinking about a holistic approach to housing and transport in our cities and towns.
“We can stop turning minor offenders into hardened criminals through an out-of-date criminal justice system.
“We can stop the robbery of our most vulnerable citizens by a greedy and immoral poker machine industry.”
Ms Johnston reflected on the “gross maladministration, cosy and dodgy deals” she saw while trying to clean up Glenorchy Council, saying that despite the council’s eventual sacking in 2017, the system had failed.
“For the community and myself there has been no justice served,” she said.
“Whilst reports from the Board of Inquiry, the Integrity Commission and the Auditor-General all reveal gross misconduct, numerous breaches of legislation, potential criminal offences, and maladministration, the only people to pay the price has been the ratepayers through some hefty bills,” she said.
“There were no prosecutions. No one has been forced to pay back money. The wrongdoers walked away scot-free – the system failed my community.”
Earlier, during Question time, Ms Johnston pressed the government to adopt Labor’s election policy of free lunches for all primary school students.
“Will you put your political rivalries to one side and introduce a healthy lunch program that would be available to all primary school students in government schools?” she asked.
Education Minister Sarah Courtney said the state couldn’t afford it and the government would stick to a pilot program in 15 schools.
“At a cost of $30 million, the only way Labor was going to pay for this unrealistic spending would have been significantly increasing school levies.
“Our pilot is a considered, evidenced-based plan that targets the support where it is needed, and strengthens access for Tasmanians to have healthy and nutritious food.”
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