Doctor Mike Freelander says he knew the time had come to get into politics when he realised more and more of his patients wanted more than just medical help from him.
“Patients would ask me about how to get access to housing and educational support,’’ Dr Freelander told the Ingleburn chamber of commerce last night.
“I was becoming frustrated with the things I was dealing in my practice because they were becoming increasingly non medical,’’ said Dr Freelander, the Labor Party candidate in the seat of Macarthur for the July 2 federal election.
“It was beginning to affect me very deeply,’’ he said.
“I’d been asked before to stand, and when our youngest child left home last year and I was asked again, I decided to have a go.
“I’m not a career politician,’’ he said.
“But it has become apparent to me over the past few years that access to medical care, housing and education is changing a lot in Australia.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“We are becoming less and less egalitarian.[/social_quote]
“I want to get elected not to become Prime Minister or even Health Minister but to help provide for the kids I look after, try and see what I can do to make life a little more equitable.
“We need to draw a line and return to the original aims of Medicare.
“When people can’t afford to take them to the doctor it can have a huge impact on the health of their kids.
“Children should not be treated differently depending on whether their parents are rich or poor – it’s just wrong,’’ Dr Freelander told the chamber.
Dr Freelander has long involvement with Labor Party
Dr Freelander revealed that he and his family have had a long involvement with the Labor Party, including his grandfather being friends with Prime Minister Ben Chifley.
“My great grand mother was one of the first women to join the ALP,’’ he said.
Dr Freelander has worked as a paediatrician in Camden and Campbelltown for 34 years. His wife Sharon is a Campbelltown librarian of 36 years standing. They have six children and five grandchildren.
“I have run a small business in Macarthur for over 30 years and know how tough it can be so I support the tax cuts for small business, but I don’t support cuts for large business.
“To me small business are those with a turnover up to $2 million.
“I also support development; development is very important for jobs. Housing development means more affordable housing for our young people,’’ he said.
“But development has to occur with the support of government, which should be responsible for infrastructure.
“In Macarthur we have been left behind in infrastructure; many of the families spend three, four hours every day travelling to and from work.
“We need more jobs in the local area, especially high tech ones.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“I will be encouraging Bill Shorten to come out here in the next couple of weeks to see where we can provide more jobs,’’ Dr Freelander said.[/social_quote]
After the chamber meeting, the South West Voice in Macarthur asked him if it were true that he no longer lived in the electorate and Dr Freelander said that it was.
“Look, we’re near Picton; we aren’t living there now but we will return there,’’ he said, admitting that it was indeed outside the electorate of Macarthur.
♦ In the interests of political balance, at the Ingleburn chamber’s next dinner meeting, on Wednesday, June 8, members will be addressed by the sitting member of Macarthur, the Liberal Party’s Russell Matheson.
Near Picton? What does that mean? And not living there now? Well where is he living? Not even a politician, just a candidate, and already avoiding giving a straight answer. Not a good sign. If you want to represent Macarthur then you should feel proud to live in Macarthur.