CHESTER PAYS TRIBUTE TO COMMUNITY AT LEAHA OPENING
October 10, 2013
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has paid tribute to the hard work of local community leaders during the official opening of the Lakes Entrance Aboriginal Health Association.
Mr Chester said the community should be proud of the way it had worked in partnership to secure government funding and build upgraded facilities to service the needs of the local indigenous community.
“It has been an outstanding effort over the past decade by Aboriginal elders, in partnership with Gippsland Lakes Community Health and interested residents to bring the new facility to fruition,” Mr Chester said.
“This is a project that has been driven by the local community and I give credit to the previous government for listening and providing funding.
“The East Gippsland indigenous community suffers from poorer health outcomes when compared to the wider community and significant efforts are being made through the Close the Gap initiative.
“Some progress has been made but it requires hard work and determination as we strive for further improvement in the future.”
Mr Chester said he was pleased to see that new Prime Minister Tony Abbott had elevated indigenous affairs to a position in Cabinet and was promising to deliver practical measures to improve health, education and employment outcomes.