MAKE Calare marginal or it won’t matter was the message the Nick Xenophon Team delivered yesterday as they met with Charles Sturt University (CSU) representatives to add their backing to the Murray Darling Medical School.
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After a funding announcement for a medical school in Gosford last week left CSU confused and disappointed, Senator Nick Xenophon said The Nationals had failed to act on their pledge of support.
“This was a commitment given by the Coalition and by the Nationals, an actual commitment, at the last election, and it seems that because this is a safe seat it doesn’t matter,” he said.
“It’s just breathtaking that they can find money when they want to.”
NXT Calare candidate Rod Bloomfield described the decision to fund a medical school in Gosford as a slap in the face to Calare and CSU.
“There’s no doubt we’re missing out because we’re not a marginal seat, we don’t count in Canberra because Calare is not a tight contest, we need to make it a tight contest, it’s as simple as that,” he said.
“Even issues like this that are considered to be a no-brainer, you still have to yell about it otherwise you simply don’t get the type of attention you need to make it happen.”
Medical school executive director Mark Burdack described his dismay as the school faced another election without funding, but said while there was also an issue with the number of rural training places once students graduated, the big issue was the lack of interest in practising in regional areas.
“Unless we can get more students who are interested in rural practice, we’re not going to get more doctors into regional areas,” he said.
“The evidence is absolutely clear that if you train students in a rural area they are significantly more likely to work in a rural area.”
CSU vice-chancellor Professor Andrew Vann said he had also spoken to Nationals candidate Andrew Gee and expected his support.
“We’re calling on all candidates to support the bid,” he said.
Scrap backpacker tax
CONCERNS from farmers about another six months of uncertainty as the backpacker tax plan is reviewed have been heard during Senator Nick Xenephon’s visit to Orange yesterday.
The federal government had planned from July this year to charge backpackers a 32.5 per cent tax rate from the first dollar they earned, unlike other workers who don’t start paying tax until their income exceeds $18,200.
Cherry growers in Orange were concerned the tax could be brought in just before cherry season and Mr Xenophon, who has previously described the tax as a free kick to New Zealand, said the delay was not good enough.
“Delaying a tax by six months doesn’t suddenly make it a better tax, it’s a bad tax and the government needs to listen to the bush and scrap this tax,” he said.
“It’s actually causing damage to regional communities and their confidence and also for farmers to be able to plan for their crops.
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
danielle.cetinski@fairfaxmedia.com.au