An inquiry into remote and rural healthcare in New South Wales has bowed to pressure by agreeing to broadcast two upcoming regional hearings.
The state parliamentary committee has come under fire for not live streaming sessions at Deniliquin and Cobar, despite providing a broadcast of its inaugural hearing in Sydney.
"To be blunt, I don't think it was a priority for the government," the opposition's health spokesman, Ryan Park, said.
The three government MPs, who are on the committee, previously told the ABC that the technology was not available at the regional hearings and that the matter was up to the president of the Legislative Council.
Inquiry under pressure
The state opposition, residents and media including the ABC have been lobbying the inquiry to ensure the hearings are live streamed.
The ABC made several attempts to contact the president, Mathew Mason-Cox, but did not receive any reply.
The inquiry decision not to provide online access to the regional hearings also prompted a rebuke from the ABC's Media Watch program.
The decision means that the upcoming hearings at Wellington and Dubbo will be accessible to people and media who are unable to attend in person on May 18 and 19.
Push to broadcast all hearings
The State Opposition said it would continue to lobby to ensure the remaining seven regional hearings are also live streamed.
"I'll be continuing to go in to bat to make sure that the remainder are," Mr Park said.
"We wanted to get the first two [Wellington and Dubbo hearings live streamed], which is a short-term victory."
The other hearings will be held in Gunnedah, Taree, Lismore, Tumut, Wagga Wagga, Walgett and Broken Hill.
