Flying fox taskforce chairman appointed

Federal Member for Gilmore Ann Sudmalis MP, State Member for Bega Andrew Constance MP and Mayor of the Eurobodalla Shire Council Lindsay Brown have today announced Mr Russell Schneider AM is to Chair a taskforce in response to the unprecedented flying fox colony in Batemans Bay.

Russell Schneider AM lives in the local area and brings to this role a wealth of experience to assist our community during this very difficult time.

“There is a lot of complexity to this issue and we must prioritise community welfare first and foremost.

“My brief is to advise all levels of government and identify where necessary, the resourcing required to help manage the community response.

“We must all pull together to support those suffering hardship and distress. We could be in for a long haul if we don’t get reprieve through the options available to us,” Russell Schneider said.

The terms of reference for the role will be:

The chairing of a fortnightly taskforce meeting with government leaders to discuss ongoing community concerns and solutions.The membership of the taskforce will include the Eurobodalla Shire Council Mayor, the two Members of Parliament, and Council’s General Manager with relevant support staff to provide advice.To provide community leadership and comfort to residents over the next several months or longer if necessary, as all three levels of government work through options with the Eurobodalla community.To be available for government agency phone hook ups, which will be occurring regularly, and to liaise with Federal and State Ministers in conjunction with taskforce members.The identification of potential resources to assist residents, including dissemination of timely and accurate information.

Media contacts

Mr Russell Schneider AM - 0429 999 592Ann Sudmalis MP, Federal Member for Gilmore - 0409 609 463Andrew Constance MP, State Member for Bega - 0400 943 597Councillor Lindsay Brown, Eurobodalla Shire Council Mayor - 0418 279 215

About Russell Schneider AM, GAICD

Mr Schneider was appointed to the Board of HCF, Australia’s largest not for profit health fund, in January 2006, and is a strong advocate of health improvement programs and has been actively engaged in development and coordination of Federal, State and private sector programs.

He was formerly the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Health Insurance Association (AHIA) for 22 years, concentrating on policy issues relating to health financing and delivery, and coordinating Federal, State and private sector agencies involved in health care.

Prior to joining AHIA, he was Political Editor of The Australian and has published extensively including several books on politics ( War Without Blood, the Colt from Kooyong) and health (Making Medicare Better).

Mr Schneider was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2008 for his contribution to national health policy development and was made a Life Member of the International Federation of Health Plans in 2006 for services to the Australian health sector.

For many years he was a member of various Government and industry bodies dealing with health and related issues.

In 2011, he was appointed to the Southern NSW District Health Board.

While working for the Federal Government in 1978 Mr Schneider played a key role in establishing the original Australian Government Crisis Policy Centre, created in the wake of the Sydney Hilton bombing, to coordinate Federal, State, local and private sector agencies in the event of a terrorist or similar incident.