May 10, 2005

Labour betrayal in Montecillo Hospital decision

MEDIA RELEASE Chris Ford Alliance Party candidate Dunedin South

Labour has betrayed one of its most loyal members and also some of its most loyal supporters through its denial of $2 million in funding to the Montecillo War Veterans Home and Hospital according to Dunedin South Alliance candidate Chris Ford.

"Montecillo Trust chairwoman Dame Dorothy Fraser is the wife of former St Kilda Labour MP Bill Fraser. In her role as trust chairwoman, she has tirelessly stood up for the interests of home residents and their families. Now she is delivered this cruel blow by the party both she and her late husband have served for over half-a-century," Mr Ford says.

Besides, the move is a betrayal of all war veterans and their families by Labour, especially those who fought against fascism in World War 2.

"Many of the veterans who are now resident at Montecillo fought against fascism and Japanese imperialism during the second world war. They were sent to war by the First Labour Government, a government which put great emphasis on the building of a welfare state that served them and their families well after the war. Now they are being betrayed by the Fifth Labour Government in an appalling way."

Mr Ford also pointed out that Labour was committed to spending $4.5 billion on defence in the upcoming budget and that this would be at the expense of social programmes. This led him onto say that "I wonder, ironically, whether Montecillo is the first victim of the next round of squeezed social services spending."

The Alliance is committed to policies which will see an expansion of resources for aged care. This will be financed through a progressive taxation regime underpinned through genuine full employment, says Mr Ford

ENDS

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