Labor candidate Mark Douglass is pictured back row left with members of his staff at the Harden Pharmacy. Mark has spent 40 years in the pharmacy industry and is pictured celebrating 40 years of employment with long term employee Julie, pictured front right in blue shirt.
NSW Opposition Leader Michael Daley today announced local pharmacist Mark Douglass as the Country Labor candidate for the electorate of Cootamundra in next year’s State Election.
Mr Daley said Mark had the right credentials to fight for the community and take on the Nationals in Cootamundra as the Berejiklian Government stubbornly presses ahead with its decision to splurge billions on Sydney stadiums.
Mr Daley said the decision to spend billions of dollars in taxpayer’s money on knocking down and rebuilding two Sydney stadiums while rural and regional NSW was in need of better schools, hospitals and infrastructure was scandalous.
Mark Douglass lives in Harden with his wife of 40 years, Lyn. His family have been part of the Cootamundra community for generations. Mark and his family own and operate community pharmacies in Harden-Murrumburrah, Gundagai and Lockhart.
Having spent his whole life working and raising his four children in country NSW, Mark understands the issues facing families in Cootamundra. Now, with nine grandchildren living in rural and regional areas, Mark is concerned for the future of all children growing up in regional NSW.
Mark knows that the people of rural and regional NSW need quality health and education services, secure jobs, and access to better infrastructure.
Mr Daley said Mark is an exceptional candidate who would be a strong voice for the Cootamundra region. This region is still suffering from the forced council mergers and the Liberal-National policy spending $2.2 billion on Sydney Stadiums.
Daley said, “I am proud to stand with Mark Douglass as Labor’s candidate for Cootamundra as he is someone who will serve his community well.
“As a pharmacist and health professional, Mark has seen first-hand the inequity between health services in the city and in the regions.
“Mark will hold the Nationals to account over their support for the Berejiklian-Barilaro government’s failed Sydney-centric stadium policies.
“The people of Cootamundra have a choice – vote for Mark Douglass and a NSW Labor team that unashamedly puts schools and hospitals before Sydney stadiums; or vote for the Sydney-centric Nationals.”
Mark said, “As a pharmacist I see the disadvantage that the people in the Southwest Slopes experience in healthcare. Rural areas are underserviced by health professionals including doctors, nurses and other allied health workers.
“There are just not enough professionals and those we have are overworked, under remunerated and underappreciated. This causes problems of access to care, increases the cost of care and increases the distances needed to travel to get care. The neglect by this government impacts adversely on rural people.
“For decades the National party representatives have taken the communities in the electorate of Cootamundra for granted. We have been neglected for decades, but the last by-election saw a swing of 20% against the Nationals.
“This result forced the new local member to start pork barrelling, throwing our money about like confetti, trying to buy votes. This is lazy politics and poor policy.
“It’s time for a change, for a better future for the people and communities in Cootamundra.”
