The Proposal
Create the Western Riverina Health District
A locally managed, independent health district serving 12 communities across the Western Riverina. The WRHD would replace the current Murrumbidgee Local Health District oversight with a board and management team directly accountable to the people they serve.
The Problems
Why MLHD Is Failing Us
Three systemic failures that demand structural change.
Decisions Made 300km Away
Bureaucrats in Wagga Wagga HQ make calls with no local knowledge. Budget priorities serve the centre, not the regions.
Broken Promises, Zero Surgeons
2 orthopaedic surgeons promised for Griffith in 2021. Four years later: still zero. Recruitment failures leave communities without essential care.
Hours on the Road, Not in Care
Patients travel up to 310km for treatment available elsewhere. A split would save 1,181km of unnecessary travel combined.
The Solutions
What a Local District Delivers
A Western Riverina Health District puts care where it belongs.
24/7 Emergency Surgery in Griffith
Orthopaedic surgery and improved mental health support at Griffith Base Hospital. No more driving hours in pain for basic care.
Care Where You Live
Reduce transfers to Wagga. Residents receive timely care in their own communities, close to family and support networks.
Local Leaders, Local Accountability
A health board and management directly accountable to the communities they serve. Decision-makers who know your name.
The Evidence
Current System vs. Proposed WRHD
See how a local health district transforms access to care.
Current System
Proposed WRHD
The Region
12 Towns, One Health District
Click any town to see its distance to Wagga Wagga, the current MLHD headquarters.
Community Voices
Real Stories. Real People.
The human cost of a centralised health system that doesn't see us.
"I drove three and a half hours with a broken arm because there was no surgeon in Griffith. Three and a half hours in agony."
"We lose good nurses every year because MLHD won't fund the positions we desperately need. I'm tired of watching colleagues leave."
"When my daughter needed a paediatrician, we had to drive to Wagga and back in a day. She was five. Try explaining that to a five-year-old."
"At my age, waiting forty minutes for an ambulance in a town this size is terrifying. We deserve better."
"Every council in the region supports this split. The community has spoken — now the government needs to listen."
FAQ
Your Questions, Answered
What is the Western Riverina Health District?
A proposed independent health district covering 12 communities currently under MLHD, with local management and decision-making.
Which towns are included?
Barham, Berrigan, Deniliquin, Finley, Griffith, Hay, Hillston, Jerilderie, Lake Cargelligo, Leeton, Moulamein, and Tocumwal.
Why can't we fix MLHD from within?
Decades of advocacy have failed. The centralised structure is the problem — local issues are consistently deprioritised.
Will this cost more?
No. The proposal redirects existing funding with local oversight, reducing waste from centralised mismanagement.
What happens to MLHD staff?
Staff in WRHD areas transfer to the new district. No jobs are lost — in fact, better recruitment means more positions.
How does this affect my local hospital?
Your hospital gains a management team that actually knows your community and prioritises your needs.
What's the timeline?
Helen Dalton has formally called for the split in Parliament. The next steps are government consultation and legislative action.
Has this been done before in NSW?
Yes. Health district boundaries have been redrawn multiple times. This is standard government process.
How can I support the campaign?
Contact Helen's offices, make a parliamentary submission, share this page, and talk to your neighbours.
What does the NSW Government say?
Helen is pursuing meetings with Health Minister Ryan Park to advance the proposal.
Timeline
The Road to Local Healthcare
From broken promises to a better future.
Orthopaedic surgeons promised for Griffith — never delivered.
Helen Dalton formally raises MLHD failures in Parliament.
Parliamentary inquiry submission lodged.
Community consultations across 12 towns.
Meeting with Health Minister Ryan Park.
Legislative pathway for WRHD established.
Western Riverina Health District operational.
Take Action
Enough Waiting. Time to Act.
The Western Riverina has waited long enough. Our communities deserve a health system that knows our names, understands our needs, and fights for our future. The evidence is clear. The community has spoken. Now it's time to act.
Add Your Voice