Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips has labelled her rival Andrew Constance “a hypocrite after he failed to deliver a radiation therapy service for the Eurobodalla when in government.”

“At no time when the Liberal Government was in government at both the state and federal level, when Mr Constance was the state member and a senior cabinet minister, did they ever advocate for, nor deliver a radiation therapy service for the Eurobodalla,” Mrs Phillips said.

“In fact, even when the federal Liberal Government in April 2019 announced funding for regional radiation services including in the Eurobodalla, then announced in August 2020 applications were opening, no application was even made for a radiation therapy service, “ she said.

Mrs Phillips maintains that; at no time did Constance take steps to ensure an application was submitted for a radiation therapy service for the Eurobodalla. “What is even worse, and of hypocritical proportions, is that he simply gave up federal funding and gave up any hope for a radiation therapy service,” she said.

“While working on the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital, which also included his plans to close the Batemans Bay Hospital and Emergency Department, he didn’t lift one finger to fight for the addition of a much-needed radiation therapy service.”

Mrs Phillips said Constance was playing politics with an important community facility and he was attempting to pull the wool over the eyes of vulnerable cancer patients and their families. “It’s a bit rich of Andrew Constance, after himself failing to deliver a radiation therapy service, to be poo-poohing actual federal funding that I’ve secured and made sure remains available for a much-needed radiation therapy service,” she added.

“I’ve continued to work with our community, and advocate strongly through the Reid Report, instigated by Dr Michael Holland and the Minns Labor Government, for the absolute need for a Eurobodalla Radiation Therapy Service.

“His claims that I have been silent are complete and utter rubbish,” Mrs Phillips added, “I have had many positive conversations with the Federal Health Minister and Dr Michael Holland, about delivering the radiation therapy service for the Eurobodalla.”

“We are continuing to work together for the best way to deliver the service, as opposed to Andrew Constance who failed to deliver, is all talk and just like Peter Dutton has nothing positive to contribute at all”.

Mrs Phillips said that the people of Eurobodalla desperately need the service. “I will continue to push from every angle to make sure this service is delivered. I’m not letting this go,” she concluded.

Asked for his comment on Mrs Phillips' claims Mr Constance has said, “I find it really disappointing that a commitment that was made three years ago by Prime Minister Albanese and his representative Mrs Phillips has come to nothing for cancer sufferers in the Eurobodalla.

“Having delivered the level 4 regional hospital, the oncology and renal unit at Moruya Hospital and a new ambulance station in the Eurobodalla I have always delivered outcomes and fought hard for our community.”

“The simple question Albanese Government MP Phillips has to answer is that since her announcement at the May 2022 election why has Labor failed to issue a tender for specialist radiotherapy in the Eurobodalla?

“Clearly the NSW Labor Government gives no credibility to her commitment because they failed to include the necessary rooms in the new level 4 regional hospital, leaving no allocated space for the linear accelerator and other therapy rooms that are required.

“According to NSW Health representatives the cost for the delivery of Ms Phillips promised radiation therapy centre stands at $100million and her allocation of $8million falls well short.

“Despite her mischievous claims and wild assertions, as confirmed by former Health Minister Brad Hazzard in May 2022 the NSW Liberal Government had tried through a tender process to attract high level radiation oncology specialists to the Eurobodalla to provide their services to local patients and this was unsuccessful

“The former Minister said at the time, and I quote: ‘These specialists need to have practice numbers that provide safety and quality for the patients and that isn’t delivered simply by providing a physical building or a linear accelerator.’

“At the time he described her poorly judged announcement as creating ‘false hope’ and three years on he has been proven right.

“I will fight to see what can be delivered safely for cancer patients into the future in the Eurobodalla as I always have, but I will do so responsibly and with all information available for the community to be informed, Mr Constance said.”