STOP Calvary Hospital ACT government takeover

: 16 May 2023

As you will be aware the ACT Greens-labor coalition government announced (10/04/23) it will take over ownership and management of Calvary Hospital in Canberra in July 2023.

The government would be forcibly acquiring Calvary Hospital, its assets and essentially forcing all of the Calvary staff to work for ACT Health. This is a blatant attack on the values of pro-life Catholic institutions.The grab for ownership and management of the hospital is unsurprising when a bill to legalise assisted suicide is expected to be introduced to Parliament later this year. Indeed the ACT government on 20/04/23 announced its intention to expand abortion services in the ACT and is investing more than $4.6 million over four years to provide all ACT residents, including those without a Medicare card, access to free abortion services.

Whilst signing of petitions is appropriate, it is more important to express your concern by

WRITING a letter, EMAILING AND making PHONE CALLS!

Emails sent solely to MPs in the ACT will not be sufficient.

Whether you live in the ACT - or elsewhere - please contact our Prime Minister and Senators for the ACT, the Hon Katy Gallagher and Senator David Pocock to voice your objection. All correspondence MUST be respectfully worded.

CONTACT THE AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER

Write to: The Hon Anthony Albanese MP
Prime Minister
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6277 7700 and leave a message
Email: pm.gov.au/contact-your-pm
Social media: @AlboMP facebook.com/AlboMP

CONTACT THE chief minister of the act (Mr Andrew Barr) AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ACT AND USE THE EMAILS BELOW: COPY AND PASTE ALL EMAIL ADDRESSES BELOW INTO A NEW EMAIL

Contact the 2 federal act senators

Senator the Hon Katherine Gallagher - Telephone (Parliament House): (02) 6277 7400 and leave a message

Senator David Pockock - Telephone (Parliament House) (02) 6277 3117 and leave a message

OR WRITE TO THE SENATORS C/-

PO Box 6100
Senate
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

QUOTATION FROM MARGARET TIGHE, PRESIDENT RIGHT TO LIFE AUSTRALIA INC.

"The closure of the ACT Calvary hospital - to be taken over by the ACT goverment is nothing short of appalling. However, it is not surprising as a bill to legalise assisted suicide is expected to be introduced to parliament later this year." said Margaret Tighe, President of Right to Life Australia.
Calvary hospital in Canberra Australia is renouned for its exceptional care to both maternity patients, day surgery and those in at end of life including palliative care.

"Has the ACT government forgotten the leading role in healthcare played by Christian hospitals throughout this country in particular the Maters, Calvarys and St Vincents? These hospitals have helped train many nurses, doctors and other health professionals" she said. She continued "Indeed it was Christians who first established such hospitals - mindful of Christ's teaching - Love one another as I have loved you. The ACT government should hang its head in shame".

Right to Life Australia is rightly are concerned about the repercussions for pregnant, elderly and frail Canberrans. Already our office has received telephone calls from vulnerable ACT residents in nursing homes who are concerned about their safety as they see the ACT Goverment legislative agenda for euthanasia moving closer.

Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher has spoken out against the plan - "It's no secret the ACT Government want to force Calvary Hospital to provide abortions now and euthanasia and assisted suicide in the future. Taking the land, buildings and hospital equipment and transferring staff employment across to Canberra Health Services allows them to push their anti-life agenda right through the hospital." See article in The Australian newspaper. Sydney Archbishop Warns of ACT Government Extreme Land and Assets Grab 16/5/23

The real agenda behind the forced acquisition is revealed by the words of Walter Abheyeratna, the ACT president of the Australian Medical Association who stated in a radio interview with ABC that it was important to deliver public healthcare services ''without being bound by ideology.''

Contact:

Mr Andrew Barr, Chief Minister
Ph: (02) 6205 0011
Contact my Minister (external site)
barr@act.gov.au
GPO Box 1020,
Canberra, ACT 2601
and

or Tweet
@ACT_Assembly
@CalvaryCareAUS
@Catholic_Voice

For more information:

Phone Margaret Tighe President 0417 338 961

WHAT IS THIS?

Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP Fenner

Ms Alicia Payne MP Canberra

Mr David Smith MP Bean