McCormack raises palliative care and prostate biopsy concerns in Parliament

THE Nationals’ Member for Riverina, Michael McCormack, has raised the lack of palliative care and prostate biopsy services in Wagga Wagga in Federal Parliament this week.

Speaking to the House of Representatives, Mr McCormack told Parliament how crucial securing palliative care services in Wagga Wagga is for the city. 

“I do not think any side of politics, whether federal or state politics, pays enough attention to palliative care,” Mr McCormack said.

“As politicians, we should do more to ensure that there is palliative care, particularly in regional areas.”



“In my own electorate of Riverina, in Wagga Wagga, it is such an important issue at the moment. We certainly need to improve our palliative care services,” Mr McCormack told Parliament.

Mr McCormack also highlighted the desperate need for prostate biopsies to be available for men in Wagga Wagga. 

“We also need to provide prostate biopsies for men, because at the moment they are not available at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital. People have to go to either Young or Griffith to access those services, which in this day and age is simply not good enough,” Mr McCormack told Parliament. 

“This is absolutely crucial.”

Mr McCormack has today also raised these issues with Federal Minister for Health, Tanya Plibersek, and the immediate past president of the Rural Doctors’ Association of Australia, Dr Paul Mara of Gundagai, in Parliament today.

“I have spoken with the Health Minister regarding the lack of services and will continue to advocate for better palliative care and prostate biopsy services in Wagga Wagga,” Mr McCormack said.

Cristy Houghton