NSW LABOR MUST ADOPT NSW LIBERAL/NATIONALS 30-DAY PAYMENT POLICY

04 August 2009

The NSW Liberals and Nationals policy of requiring State Government accounts to be paid within 30 days would put a stop to the crippling saga of unpaid bills, Duty MLC for Dubbo Duncan Gay said today.

Today’s Daily Liberal reports that Parkes Shire “was one of those creditors” not paid by the 45-day benchmark set by the NSW Labor Government and that GWAHS debt remained stable at a ballpark figure of about $10.2 million.[1]

“The Parkes community has been denied the new hospital they were promised back in 2004, now they’re having to prop up a health service which is plagued by unnecessary debt,” said Mr Gay.

“Local Government is doing it tough enough trying to battle red tape without having to bear further brunt from a Government that can’t pay its bills.

“The NSW Labor Government must adopt the NSW Liberals and Nationals policy of requiring State Government accounts to be paid within 30 days and allowing penalty interest to be charged if the deadline is not met.

“Creditors should not have to put up with overdue accounts from Labor Government departments- it’s quite simply unacceptable.

“What good is it when the very Government that implemented the 45-day payment benchmark can’t adhere to its own rules?

“I have no doubt that business owners in the Dubbo, Parkes and Forbes communities are as sick and tired as I am at the permanent debt this inept NSW Labor Government finds itself in. 

“The GWAHS has been unsuccessfully trying to operate within its budget for far to long. It’s quite clear the size of the area health service is far too big to manage properly.

“A NSW Liberals and Nationals Government will remove Labor’s failed Area Health Services and replace them with smaller, community-focussed health districts.

“It’s almost 12 months since the unpaid bills crisis emerged. NSW Labor has had more than enough time to put a stop to unpaid bills.

“It’s about time this incapable Labor Government adopts the NSW Liberals and Nationals plans to improve the management of the State’s health system.”

[1] http://www.dailyliberal.com.au/news/local/news/general/parkes-ratepayers-prop-up-gwahs/1585815.aspx#