‘People power’ brings Maclean Hospital sale backdown: Cansdell

Vocal protests by the Lower Clarence community were the key factor in forcing the NSW Labor Government to back down on its proposed sell-off of Maclean Hospital land, according to protest rally organiser and Clarence Nationals MP Steve Cansdell.

“This is the biggest win for Clarence people power since we forced Labor to can its attempted sell-off of the Grafton Ag Station,” Mr Cansdell said.

He said that ‘hundreds of locals joined a protest rally organised by their community-focused MP’, and the positive outcome was announced in writing recently by North Coast Area Health Service boss, Chris Crawford.

“As there has been no interest since the land was offered for sale, it has been withdrawn for sale,” Mr Crawford wrote to Maclean Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator Neil Morris.

That, according to Mr Cansdell, is classic ‘Labor spin’.

“If there has been no interest from buyers, it is because potential purchasers saw how unpopular this sale was and backed out,” Mr Cansdell said.

The MP cautioned Lower Clarence residents about declaring victory just yet.

“This Labor Government is unbelievably devious. We might have cornered them this time, but chances are they’ll come back with another ‘cunning plan’ to raise revenue to fill Sydney’s empty coffers,” Mr Cansdell concluded.

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