Still no answers on hospital funds

Sick of Waiting - Where’s The Funding?

A community group which has actively lobbied the state government for funding for a new hospital is not confident the project will be announced in next week’s state government budget - but will continue its fight through an election campaign.

A long awaited meeting between Where’s The Funding representatives and Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing has given the group no answers on funding for a new hospital on a greenfield site at Drouin East.

Where’s The Funding representatives met with Ms Shing on Friday but group spokesman Rob Sinnett said they came away with few answers and with little hope that funding for a new hospital will be included in next week’s state budget.

The group is still desperately trying to meet with Health Minister Jill Hennessy.

The group launched a massive community lobbying campaign six weeks ago in the hope the state government would reveal the outcome of a business case that has assessed the viability of a new hospital on a greenfield site or expanding existing facilities on the Landsborough Rd site.

But Dr Sinnett admits his gut feeling is there will be no answers and no funding in next week’s budget.

“My gut feeling is we will get nothing but I hope I am wrong. Even if we can get a commitment to the next stage of planning and designs it would be great.

“That would be a good result because it would mean something is in the pipeline.

“If we get nothing, it will become an election issue and we will drive it through an election campaign. We won’t be backing off.

“We have always said we wanted this to be apolitical and we want to work with both parties.

“We know it’s a lot of money and even if it is announced, it is probably five to 10 years away,” he said.

The Liberal Nationals announced in February last year it would build a new hospital on a greenfield site if elected at this year’s state election. There has never been a “when” attached to the commitment.

After receiving a petition signed by more than 10,000 people calling for a new hospital, Member for Narracan Gary Blackwood said he was confident a new hospital would be delivered sooner rather than later.

“We have to win an election to be able to deliver on that commitment. But because the planning has been done that will enable us to act quickly,” he said.

The state government gave a $1 million commitment during the last state election that it will undertake a feasibility study and business case to assess options for a new hospital.

While Dr Sinnett acknowledged this work had to be done, he said it was disappointing that almost four years later, they still have no answers.

Dr Sinnett said they “got nothing” out of Friday’s meeting with Ms Shing.

“She was very aware of what we have been doing,” he said, and guaranteed she had been advocating for us.

But, Dr Sinnett said Ms Shing gave them no indication of the results of the business case or what had been discussed within government ranks.

“We’ve run this campaign for nearly six weeks and we still don’t have an appointment with the minister. We have tried our hardest and hopefully they will listen to us. Regardless of the budget we will go ahead with our campaign,” he said.

Hundreds of letters signed by community members have been sent to Health Minister Jill Hennessy, as well as a box of newspaper articles, the group’s red t-shirt and a letter requesting a meeting.