Tom Dowie * Hunger Strike * Queen Mary Hospital

"The Canterbury branch of the Alliance party wholeheartedly supports the stance of Mr Tom Dowie in taking his message directly to the Minister of Health" says Dr Dave Palmer, Canterbury Regional Chair of the Alliance Party. Dr Palmer was commenting on the ongoing hunger strike by Mr Tom Dowie in opposition to the land sale of the former Queen Mary Hospital site.

"The closure of Queen Mary was one thing, but the sale forever of such tranquil surrounds is indeed another example of a government without the foresight needed to appreciate the longer term value of the site" says Dr Palmer.

"New Zealanders know how drug and alcohol addictions are shaping up to be a major social ill of this generation and the sale of a world-class sanctuary such as the Queen Mary Hospital site is nothing short of inter-generational vandalism."

"We admire the strength of fortitude displayed by Tom and hope that his message will make the powers that be reconsider their position on mothballing a service and a site that has served thousands of New Zealanders over the last 90 years".

"Queen Mary Hospital has provided for many addicts a complete break from their spiralling lifestyles, allowing them time and treatment to reassemble their lives. Tom is but one success story of this place and I would encourage people to listen to Tom."

"Annette King should think very carefully before rubber-stamping the ill-judged decision of the Canterbury District Health Board to sell the site. The elected health board members should also consider the communities (not the land developers) that they are here to serve."

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