DEBRA O’Brien, former high school teacher, and now local community service worker, has hit the campaign trail as the Country Labor candidate for Northern Tablelands ahead of next year’s state election.
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“Northern Tablelands deserves someone who will stand up for them. That’s why I’m running,” Ms O’Brien said.
“I’ll be fighting to stop cuts to health, for increased funding to schools and TAFE and to keep services open that support the most vulnerable in our community,” she continued.
“The National-Liberal government has made it clear that they are not on our side. They won’t stand up for our community’s health, our kids’ futures or the most vulnerable people in our community.
“As a mother and community worker, I can see that our public health system in the bush is heading towards disaster. We’ve got a growing and ageing population and yet the State Government has cut funding to health. Cuts to public education and the turnaround on Gonski reforms will have an impact on the quality of education and the equality of educational opportunities. Cuts to TAFE have seen alternative education pathways closing for many.
“The member for Northern Tablelands is very good at delivering small funding grants but is completely ineffective when it comes to standing up to his North-Shore based Liberal colleagues and fighting for the things that are most needed in our community,” Ms O’Brien said.
“We have no further commitment from the National-Liberal Coalition aside from some planning money for the Armidale hospital and no plan to address staff shortages at Moree and Inverell hospitals.
“I cannot sit back and allow the Nationals to take our community for granted any longer,” she said.
Ms O’Brien lives in Armidale and grew up in Moree.
