“Ask the LH” in August
For the August issue of “Ask the LH”, the students of the 4 CHW of the HLWest Innsbruck were guests of Governor Günther Platter in the country house. We talked about care, the wolf problem and what skills a provincial governor must have.
“The exchange with young people is very important to me personally. Within the framework of ‘Ask the LH’ there were many opportunities for discussion. It is the young Tyroleans who shape and shape the future of our country and our society. As governor, it is important to me that young people in Tyrol find ideal conditions for their future. That is why our youth must be heard and taken seriously.”
Care affects us all
Marita Schwarz and Heidrun Weißkopf asked the questions that the students had previously worked out together in class for the entire class. The first question is about the recently adopted care reform, through which the Tyrolean state government will bring an additional 4.7 billion euros for caregivers, caregivers and caregiving relatives over the next ten years. LH Platter adds: “Caring is a huge challenge for our entire society: Fortunately, people are getting older. At the same time, however, this increases the need for nursing services and nursing staff.”
The governor emphasized that the Tyrolean state government is taking further measures in addition to the care reform already decided by the federal government: “It’s about making more money available for care – on the one hand for the effort of the nursing staff, but on the other hand also for the support of relatives and the expansion of training opportunities. We also want to improve childcare, especially in the care sector, to strengthen the compatibility of family and work.”
Wolf: Pressure from the Alpine countries on the EU
The second question revolves around the wolf problem in Tyrol and whether the species protection of wolves can justify the numerous sheep kills recently, is reported in a broadcast. LH Platter made it clear that this is also a very emotional topic for him and emphasized: “My basic attitude is that not only wolves but also sheep are animals and our farm animals must be protected from the wolf.”
The governor described in particular the burden on farming families. The state of Tyrol alone has only limited options for removal, because the protection status of the wolf weighs very high at European level. This regulation comes from a time when there were hardly any wolves in the Alps. “I am currently President of ARGE ALP, an association of ten Alpine countries. Within this framework, we made a joint decision: Namely that the protection status must be lowered in order to be able to remove problem wolves from the Alpine region.” He emphasized that Tyrol, together with the other Alpine countries, WILL continue to put pressure on the EU so that the urgent need for action is also seen there and stated clearly: “It must continue to be possible to manage our alpine pastures without being exposed to the constant danger of wolves.”
Provincial governor quality: Reliability and intuition
Finally, LH Platter’s students wanted to know what personality traits a provincial governor needs to be able to withstand the pressure that one is under in this office. “I have been in top politics for 36 years and have experienced all levels: Mayor, National Councilor, Provincial Councilor, Minister of Defense, Minister of the Interior and now 14 years as Governor of Tyrol – although that is the most beautiful task. The most important thing is that you like working for the country and its people, that you listen to people and make decisions quickly, while remaining reliable, authentic and credible. As a governor, you need a good feeling for the people of Tyrol.” For the governor, the focus during his tenure was always on the future of the next generations: “My goal was and is that our children and grandchildren have it just as well as they do we now. That is why social peace, economic stability, sustainable national development and stable conditions are needed.”