Hospital Parking Fees

The New South Wales Premier has announced that parking fees at state hospitals will soon be a lot cheaper. The change comes after months of campaigning from a teenager named Gidon. We checked in with him to find out how he feels about his big win. It was the moment 14-year-old Gidon had been waiting for.

GIDON: I'm now unbelievably proud to be able to say that the Premier and the Health Minister are introducing a policy which is going to do amazing things for the families.

After months of campaigning, he had successfully convinced the NSW government to lower the cost of hospital parking for families like his. Gidon's story started last year when he began a petition asking for the government to put a limit on how much hospitals can charge for parking. Gidon has a rare blood condition. That's meant a lot of trips to hospitals over the years and during that time he says he's noticed how expensive parking can be. In fact, since he was diagnosed his parents have paid more than $10,000 in parking fees, just so he can be treated.
GIDON: It actually stops people from visiting them cause when it's going to cost $15 or $20 to visit someone and you could be spending that on food for that night and you might not be able to afford that then you won't get visitors

Gidon's petition was a huge success, with more than 70,000 people signing it.

GIDON: I never could have imagined that, that petition would go on to receive 70,000 signatures which really was amazing for me and it would start a national conversation about the issue of hospital parking fees which as you know hit people who are vulnerable the hardest.

And now the NSW Premier Gladys Berekjilian has responded.

GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN, NSW PREMIER: Today is about people making a difference. A teenager like Gidon making a difference.

She announced a huge reduction in parking fees at all NSW hospitals. She says regular visitors will get a 90% discount on what they pay now.

GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN, NSW PREMIER: I'm very pleased to be able to make this announcement. This is a huge boost for families, for patients and for carers who are visiting all our public hospitals. And it's a huge boost for anyone who appreciates the stress patients and families go through when they're a regular visitor to a hospital.

Gidon couldn't be happier to see his hard work pay off.

GIDON: It gives me a really good feeling to know that I've made a change, that change has happened. I think what I would like to say to all to all the other people especially kids who want to start change is that it really does sometimes seem impossible that someone that doesn't have a vote and who doesn't have as much democratic power really as adults do. I think what this has shown is that it really is possible to do these things that we still can affect our country and that small people can make great change.

• Jack Evans | Reporter
• NSW hospital parking fees to be cut following 14yo's petition: ABC News | weblink
• Teenager's petition to slash hospital parking fees gains traction: ABC News | weblink
• Gidon's Petition: Change.org | weblink
• Australia:NSW | Map
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