The NSW premier and cabinet are in Griffith on Thursday for a community cabinet meeting. 

“What do we want, new hospital, now” was the chant of protesters as the Premier drove in and walked in the club remaining several meters from the protesters.  

Jenna Woodland, president of a protest group called Save Griffith Base Hospital, called out “can we ask you a few questions Premier?”, but the request was ignored. 

“We want a decision on a new hospital in Griffith and we want to see a funding commitment,” Ms Woodland said. 

A few hundred protesters had gathered around Griffith Exies main entrance from 8.45am hoping at least one minister would front up and explain whether the NSW Government were going to stop what they call constant downgrading of a hospital. 

Most protesters ran to the rear Yambil street entry when a car with Victorian number plates driving the NSW Premier was seen sneaking in the rear entry just after 9am. 

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard was said to have gone in to the club through the main entrance, but was not seen by The Area News or protest organisers.

Among the protesters was Bill Calabria of Calabria Family Wines, Griffith business chamber president Paul Pierotti, Musician Robert Fattore, and real estates agents Brendan Catanzariti, Jeanette Cunial and Nathan Thomas. 

Anger over the hospital started last month when the NSW Government announced the hospital’s key pathology services would be downgraded, and relocated to Wagga.   

After weeks of sustained protest, the NSW Government reversed the decision. 

But residents continued to fight, holding a mass rally last Saturday to highlight downgrades to radiology, sterilisation and other health services. 

“We have one full-time surgeon for 80,000 people, it’s just not good enough,” Bill Calabria said. 

The NSW Premier went to Griffith Exies for a private community Cabinet meeting.

The Premier and Cabinet will be meeting with community groups and making announcements across Griffith today.