STATE CABINET IN FNQ Hints on hospital funding for now
THERE were plenty of hints at Cairns University Hospital funding but no cigar as Far North MPs wriggled their way through a curve-ball question at a heavily scripted media conference.
So far only the LNP has committed funds to the Cairns Hospital with $2 million to build a dedicated kidney transplant unit and $26 million to overhaul the emergency department.
Neither party has pulled the trigger on the $165 millionplus needed to build the university hospital — although Ms Palaszczuk said the push would be a hot topic during Cabinet deliberations.
“We’ll have more to say over the coming days,” she dangled.
The tease was repeated when the region’s MPs were put on the spot to name one key project they would twist the Premier’s arm over during the three-day visit.
Cairns MP Michael Healy was first, giving the others a chance to gather thoughts.
“Obviously our university hospital is a hot topic,” he said.
“In addition to that, we have a very healthy marine precinct that needs significant future investment.
“I know that we’re looking at that and I hope to see some announcements for road infrastructure.”
Cook MP Cynthia Lui found it difficult to hone it down to a single project.
“Cook is a huge electorate and I think it would be crazy for me to just name one thing,” she said.
Barron River MP Craig Crawford wanted to keep some key issues up his sleeve for later in the election campaign.
“If there’s something I want to talk to Cabinet over the next couple of days about, I think it would be around the Cairns Hospital and further work in that space,” he said.
“I’ve got a long list, a lot of them are roads, but I’m also mindful that there’s a campaign starting in about five or so weeks — so I’m going to keep my powder dry.”
Mulgrave MP Curtis Pitt said he would not be so backward in coming forward.
“It’s definitely a unity ticket when it comes to the university hospital,” he said.
“Far North Queensland is bigger than Cairns but the Cairns Hospital services the entire of Far North Queensland.”
Visit cairnspost.com.au to sign the petition for a Cairns University Hospital.