Today’s session of the state parliament began with a commemoration of the recently deceased Red Cross President and former state politician Walter Aichinger. In the question time that followed, the SPÖ raised the issue of empty beds in the hospitals of the Upper Austrian health holding company – the oral question to Deputy Governor Christine Haberlander (VP) revealed that 358 beds are currently blocked there, partly due to a lack of staff. Last year there were 432.
Data and facts were also the subject of the question from Green MP Anne-Sophie Bauer. She wanted to know from State Councillor Michaela Langer-Weniger (VP) how high the costs incurred by the state due to storm-related damage to agriculture are this year. Langer-Weninger put these costs – caused by drought, frost and the like – at 38 million euros, not including the damage from the recent flood.
You might also be interested in: Greens and Neos bring Causa Luger to the state parliament
The flood in question was also the subject of a current affairs session – in addition to thanking the emergency services and helpers, relief and protection measures as well as renaturation were discussed. Different approaches were inevitable – especially with regard to the latter – but the atmosphere of the discussion was nevertheless calm.
Call for stronger control
An initiative proposal from the Greens and Neos was discussed beforehand. Based on the Linz LIVA affair, they called for the audit offices in Linz, Wels and Steyr to be upgraded to independent city audit offices. The club leaders Severin Mayr (Greens) and Felix Eypeltauer (Neos) stressed that it was urgently necessary to tighten up the statutes and expand control rights – especially with a view to the publication of the reports. “Let’s not wait for the next scandal before we do something,” said Mayr.
“}”>
Image: VOLKER WEIHBOLD
Source: Nachrichten
