[no bill text published] Establishment of the Murrumbidgee and Western Riverina Local Health Districts
Health Services Amendment (Splitting of the Murrumbidgee Local Health District) Bill 2025
Independent BillLegislative Assembly
Legislative Council
Assent
Introduced by: Helen Dalton MP (IND)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
Michael Holland ALP
“I lead for the Government in opposing the Health Services Amendment (Splitting of the Murrumbidgee Local Health District) Bill 2025. The bill seeks to amend the Health Services Act 1997 to split the Murrumbidgee Local Health District into two local health districts.”
Gurmesh Singh NAT
“I speak in debate on the Health Services Amendment (Splitting of the Murrumbidgee Local Health District) Bill 2025. The Murrumbidgee Local Health District provides public health services to approximately 245,000 people across the Riverina, Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area and the South Western Slopes of New South Wales.”
Jenny Leong GRN
“I speak on behalf of The Greens in debate on the Health Services Amendment (Splitting of the Murrumbidgee Local Health District) Bill 2025 and acknowledge the contribution of the member for Coffs Harbour in which he moved that the bill be sent to an inquiry. Up-front, I indicate that The Greens support that move.”
Anna Watson ALP
“I contribute to debate on the Health Services Amendment (Splitting of the Murrumbidgee Local Health District) Bill 2025 and thank the member for Murray for introducing the bill to the House. The member for Murray and I are on a unity ticket when it comes to health services in regional areas. The people who live in the regions deserve the same world-class health care as our city counterparts.”
Joe McGirr IND
“I make a contribution to debate on the Health Services Amendment (Splitting of the Murrumbidgee Local Health District) Bill 2025. I acknowledge the member for Murray and thank her for her advocacy for her community on the subject of rural, remote and regional health. She has real and justified concerns about the level of health services and other services in her community.”
Liesl Tesch ALP
“I contribute to debate on the Health Services Amendment (Splitting of the Murrumbidgee Local Health District) Bill 2025. I commend the member for Murray for the work that she does in her electorate, and for her advocacy for people from the bush across New South Wales, well beyond her electorate. She really is a voice for regional New South Wales.”
Justin Clancy LIB
“I welcome the opportunity to contribute to debate on the Health Services Amendment (Splitting of the Murrumbidgee Local Health District) Bill 2025. I thank the member for Murray for bringing the bill before the House. Firstly, I acknowledge that the Parliamentary Secretary for Health, and member for Bega, is in the Chamber.”
Karen McKeown ALP
“I contribute to debate on the Health Services Amendment (Splitting of the Murrumbidgee Local Health District) Bill 2025. I say at the outset that I totally support this issue being referred to a committee for further investigation and analysis. I have some concerns about automatically splitting a health district.”
Nathan Hagarty ALP
“I speak to the Health Legislation Amendment (Splitting of the Murrumbidgee Local Health District) Bill 2025. While I appreciate the concerns raised by the good member for Murray, I believe the bill risks unintentionally doing more harm than good for the people who rely on our health system. That is especially concerning when it comes to regional and rural communities.”
“I contribute to debate on the Health Services Amendment (Splitting of the Murrumbidgee Local Health District) Bill 2025. I thank the member for Murray for bringing the concerns of the community she represents to the House in the form of this bill.”
Helen Dalton IND
“In my closing comments, I obviously speak in support of the Health Services Amendment (Splitting of the Murrumbidgee Local Health District) Bill 2025. Sometimes the worst kind of management is remote management. That is one of the biggest problems. Bosses can be too far away from the action to be able to run things properly.”
News articles and press releases
Health Services Amendment (Splitting of the Murrumbidgee Local Health District) Bill 2025
Mrs HELEN DALTON, Member for Murray — 2025-03-27
The object of the bill is to split the Murrumbidgee Local Health District into two local health districts: the Murrumbidgee Local Health District and the new Western Riverina Local Health District. The creation of the Western Riverina Local Health District will provide proper locally based, locally planned and locally delivered healthcare services. Wagga Wagga Base Hospital is already at breaking point. The creation of the Western Riverina Local Health District will take the load off Wagga. It will reduce strain by decentralising patient care. That will help to reduce wait times and enhance the quality of services in my electorate. The creation of the Western Riverina Local Health Distract will also allow for more strategic deployment of resources.