State Health Minister Jack Snelling announced funding cuts of about $3 million to youth services, this will mean many vulnerable young people will miss out on much needed help.

Many years of hard work to offer help to young people in need of assistance will be dismantled, which will no doubt cause a lot of pain for our youth, Shadow Minister for Youth and Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Dr Duncan McFetridge said.

Liberal Member for Morphett Dr Duncan McFetridge has introduced a private members bill this morning to amend the Fire and Emergency Services Act to incorporate the South Australian CFS Volunteers Charter into the act.

“This move will compel the government to consult with volunteers on any changes to the legislation and regulations of the CFS,” Dr McFetridge said.

Applications are open for The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust’s 2013 round of prestigious Churchill Fellowships.

The Trust was established after the death of Sir Winston in 1965 with the specific intention of perpetuating his memory by awarding travelling Fellowships for outstanding Australian citizens who, like Churchill, are determined to make a difference.

“Since the first Fellowships were awarded, more than 3,700 Australians over the age of 18 have identified projects where overseas research allowed them to gather and bring back to Australia vital information, networks and skills,” said Mr Paul Tys, CEO of the Churchill Trust.

Liberal Leader Isobel Redmond has called on the Weatherill Labor Government to reverse the decision to slash funding to St John Ambulance immediately.

Ms Redmond also guaranteed that the State Liberals would continue to fund St John Ambulance at their existing rate if elected to Government in 2014.

Dr Duncan McFetridge, Member for Morphett, has been fighting on behalf of residents and motorists for more than ten years to have a grade separation at Oaklands Crossing.

Daily congestion has worsened due to increased traffic from the State Aquatic Centre, the neighbouring GP Plus Clinic and stalling tactics by Labor to build an overpass at this nightmare intersection.

South Australian parents will be given the right to say “no” to teen drinking, under a Private Member’s Bill being announced today by Shadow Youth Minister John Gardner.

“Parents can introduce alcohol to their own children at whatever time they feel is suitable, but adults who are hosting parties or other gatherings will have to get prior parental consent if they want to give booze to underage guests,” Liberal Leader Isobel Redmond.

“Many parents across the State feel powerless to stop their school-aged children from drinking and this Bill will bring the law in South Australia into line with the law in Victoria, NSW, Queensland and Tasmania,” Ms Redmond said.

The Labor Government is hiding numerous problems with their SACAD system which has become an internal nightmare for CFS volunteers and emergency services workers.

A letter from the Country Fire Service Volunteers Association released under FOI from Dr Duncan McFetridge, Shadow Minister for Emergency Services and Volunteers, said that there had been numerous problems with the SACAD system since its implementation in December 2011.

Volunteers in South Australia are vital in improving our community and all those who offer their time need to be congratulated.

“We should take the opportunity during National Volunteer Week to thank all the volunteers for their much needed support and services to many community organisations,” Shadow Minister for Volunteers Dr Duncan McFetridge said.

One of Adelaide’s well-known international tourist events is now the latest casualty of the State Government’s cuts to police resources.

“Police have notified participants that this year they do not have the resources to control one-way traffic on the traditional Bay to Birdwood route between Tea Tree Gully and Birdwood,” Shadow Police and Road Safety Minister Duncan McFetridge said.

Shadow Minister for Opposition Emergency Services, Dr Duncan McFetridge MP, said that the new Alert SA website is just more window dressing to disguise the real gaps in emergency services warnings in South Australia.

“While the website pulls some already available information into the one place, the benefit stops there, even the instructional video cuts out at a crucial stage,” said Dr McFetridge.

“None of our current systems provide push notifications to residents to warn them of incidents and impending danger. Instead they send a standard message to a billing address.

Over 1,600 mental health patients waited up to 18 hours for a bed in the past 12 months, according to Labor’s information dashboard system

From 7 November 2010 until 6 November 2011, 1,620 patients – approximately four patients per day – waited up to 18 hours for a bed at Adelaide’s four major public hospitals.

Increased shark sightings across Australia have renewed calls from Dr Duncan McFetridge, Member for Morphett, for a swimming enclosure at Glenelg Beach to protect swimmers.

Dr McFetridge has been calling for a protected area for a number of years - where families can swim, free from the fear of sharks off the shore at Glenelg.

Community sport and recreation clubs in South Australia will be winners out of the Adelaide Oval deal.

The Stadium Management Authority (SMA) will have to pay rent for Adelaide Oval under Liberal amendments passed in the Legislative Council last night (28 July 2011).

Shadow Health Minister and veterinarian Duncan McFetridge is calling on the State Government to test flying foxes for Hendra virus.
“There is a small flying fox population in South Australia and I would be surprised if they were not carrying the Hendra virus,” Dr McFetridge said.

Today is International Nurses Day and the challenges and rewards of working as a mental health nurse may become evident for high-profile politician, Shadow Minister for Health Duncan McFetridge, when he has the opportunity today to meet and work-shadow a mental health nurse in a busy health care setting. 
Dr McFetridge will participate in the work shadow event organized by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (SA Branch) as part of celebrations to mark today’s International Nurses’ Day – May 12.

Treating your dog to an Easter chocolate could lead to its death, warned the State Liberal’s friendly veterinarian Dr Duncan McFetridge.

Dr McFetridge, a vet for more than 20 years, said chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine which can be toxic to dogs and cats.

“Chemicals found in chocolate can easily build up in a dog’s system potentially leading to a heart attack,” Dr McFetridge said.

Faulty fire alarms are placing patients in South Australia’s metropolitan hospitals at serious risk with 245 false call outs in the last nine months.

Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) statistics reveal that hospital fire alarms have been activated for reasons other than fire, raising serious concerns about their effectiveness.

The MFS has collected $89,000 in fees for the false calls out, although this did not even cover the costs of their services.

Exercise Your Mood Week, is being held across Australia from 11 to 19 September 2010 to underline the importance of exercise for maintaining good mental health.

Those participating will help to raise funds to support the work of the Black Dog Institute which is a not-for-profit, educational, research, clinical and community-orientated facility offering specialist expertise in depression and bipolar disorder.

A Redmond Liberal Government will commit $2.2 million to help Meals on Meals care for more South Australians.

This contribution will increase the subsidy provided to Meals on Wheels by 50 cents per meal. SA Meals on Wheels currently prepare more than 5, 000 three course meals per day.

Isobel Redmond, Leader of the Opposition said that non-government organisations such as Meals on Wheels provide an invaluable service to communities when and where people need them.

“The elderly and housebound, those with a disability and carers rely on Meals on Wheels to assist them to be able to remain in their own homes – this is a fantastic service,” Ms Redmond said.

Member for Morphett and veterinarian of over 20 years Dr Duncan McFetridge urges dog owners to take proper care of their pets with temperatures expected to soar into the high thirties this week.

“We have all heard horrific stories about dogs dying in cars on moderately sunny days and all dog owners should remember their pets need fresh air to cool themselves down,” Dr McFetridge said.