Labor: Deborah O'Neill

The Peninsula is the traditional heartland of the Robertson electorate.

As a Central Coast resident for 25 years who has dedicated my life to teaching locally, I am deeply conscious of Peninsula pride, and its strong sense of community.

If you elect me to represent you as your Federal member, I will honour the trust that you place in me.

The people of our community already know I have the courage to stand up when it counts - for what's right and fair.

You can be assured that I have the courage to stand up for our region's interests in Canberra - for the health services, education and infrastructure the Peninsula needs.

In the course of the election campaign I have announced a number of commitments to the Peninsula.

The major commitment is $2 million in infrastructure funding for the next stage of the Ettalong Beach Foreshore redevelopment.

This builds on the $3 million upgrade of the Peninsula Recreation Precinct secured as part of Labor's Nation Building-Economic Stimulus Plan.

Other projects on the Peninsula include $150,000 in funding for the Peninsula Community Centre's Security and Prevention Project for Seniors and $30,000 to build a fence around the playground at Fisherman's Wharf in Woy Woy.

I lobbied for the fence after a public plea by Umina Beach mum Kea Anderson.

I listened to Kea, found a way to help out, and got funding to fix the problem.

I take a similar approach to the bigger problems we face in our part of the Central Coast.

After knocking on thousands of doors to engage directly with people, I know that health is our biggest concern.

Many people have shared their stories with me in the course of the campaign.

One anecdote I heard from a woman I met at Umina Beach sums it up.

Despite suffering a urinary tract infection, this woman told me how she had to go to Accident and Emergency to get a script, because she couldn't get in to see a GP for two weeks.

Access to a doctor should be a right not a privilege, yet time and again I come across local people who cannot get in to see a doctor when they need one.

Labor is making up for the years in which Tony Abbott as Health Minister ripped $1 billion out of public hospitals and capped GP and nurse training places.

After a strongly-supported community campaign, I obtained funding of up to $7 million for a GP Super Clinic, which when established will provide as many as 20,000 GP services annually.

I also obtained $5 million for 16 acute care beds at Gosford Hospital and new Emergency Department equipment.

The Liberals have said they will not fund GP Super Clinics.

A vote for Labor on August 21 will ensure that people like the woman I met at Umina Beach will get the treatment they deserve in a rich, first world country with a universal health care system.

Deborah O'Neill Labor Party