It’s enough to make you sick
THE PALASZCZUK GOVERNMENT HAD THE TRUMPETS BLARING DURING ITS RECENT CABINET VISIT … UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WAS A LARGE DEGREE OF SMOKE AND MIRRORS
THE piddling investment so far pledged towards the Cairns University Hospital is an embarrassing figure — especially when taken in context of two other recent State Government announcements.
The Palaszczuk government had the trumpets blaring during its recent cabinet visit to the Far North when it announced “$52.9m towards (a) new Cairns University Hospital”.
Unfortunately, there was a large degree of smoke and mirrors at play.
What they actually promised was $51.4m in very worthy business-asusual upgrades to the existing Cairns Hospital, and a trifling $1.5 million towards a preliminary business case for a Cairns University Hospital.
Bear in mind the hospital’s own plans show another $3.5m is needed just to complete a detailed business case, and overall there remains a $163.5m shortfall — plus the $10mor-so still needed to buy the land.
That’s all well and good, and there is plenty of time before the October 31 election to make further commitments.
But hang on, Health Minister Steven Miles this week announced the same $1.5m figure for another project, a preliminary business case for the Townsville University Hospital expansion. Townsville already has a tertiary-level hospital and all the bells and whistles that go with that.
Now it is getting the very same treatment as Cairns, but this time to diamond-stud what is already an excellent facility.
There is an extra rotten cherry on top, as well.
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill is doing her level best to screw Cairns out of its logical right to house a new kidney transplant unit. The LNP has committed $2m to build the critical new facility in Cairns which makes absolute sense due to the city’s proximity to Cape York and Torres Strait, whose residents have vastly increased incidences of renal disease compared to the wider population.
It is no secret that Labor is edging towards funnelling the kidney unit funds into Townsville in an effort to keep its three MPs in the area in their seats — but it makes no sense when it comes to public health.
Then we get to the next figure. Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni this week finally revealed Queensland taxpayers had shelled out $2.65m for the pop-up basketball stadium at the former Bunning’s Warehouse building in Portsmith.
That is a massive figure, considering all the State Government could find for the Cairns University Hospital was $1.5 million.
The pop-up stadium became necessary because the government’s Cairns Convention Centre upgrade was running months late, which was blamed on COVID-19 delaying the delivery of some chairs and cooling units and whatnot.
However, it now appears the Cairns Taipans will not even play a game there. If we can dish up $2.65m for an unnecessary stadium and $1.5m to get the ball rolling on a Townsville University Hospital gilding exercise, surely we can secure the entire sum we are so desperate for in Cairns.
It is going to be a big election issue for every seat in the Far North — and you know what? We can criticise Labor, but the LNP has not committed a red cent.