Hospital pledge backed

With the business case for a new West Gippsland Hospital now publicly available, Member for Narracan Gary Blackwood has reinforced the Opposition’s commitment to the project will provide all facilities needed for a growing community.

Following the ALP’s announcement for a $610 million to $675 million 223 bed development last week, political argy-bargy unfolded as the two parties disputed each other’s commitment.

A key difference between the two commitments is the ALP’s pledge to fund the project completely with state funds; while the Liberal/ Nationals $600 million promise is proposed to be funded with $400 million state funds and $200 million from the federal government.

The ALP announcement included: up to 223 beds and treatment spaces; 33 emergency department treatment spaces (increase of 19); three operating theatres; a new birthing unit, including special care nursery cots and maternity unit; 60 bed aged care facility, staff accommodation and training; and, a helipad.

In June, Opposition leader Matthew Guy pledged $600 million to building a new 200 bed fit-for-purpose hospital at Drouin East if the Liberal/Nationals government was elected.

But, Mr Blackwood said the Opposition’s pledge was based on assumptions of what was in the business case.

He said now that the detail will be released, the Opposition would match the project announced by the ALP who had the benefit of findings of a feasibility study and business case before making its announcement.

“I have been asking for the Premier and Minister for Health to reveal the feasibility study into a new West Gippsland Hospital for five years. The announcement this week has endorsed the policy we have had since 2017, a brand new hospital, not a rebuild of the current hospital, was always the right decision.

“The announcement has confirmed our plan to fund a $600 million design, tender and build commitment was the right call, and that a Liberal Government will deliver the modern facilities needed local. More beds, an expanded emergency department, expanded birthing suite, aged care facilities, emergency transport and educational facilities,” Mr Blackwood said.

While the Opposition’s commitment is dependent on $200 million federal funding, Member for Eastern Victoria Region Harriet Shing was quick to point out on social media last week that the ALP’s commitment was not dependent on federal money.

“Our commitment is not dependent on getting $200 million in federal funding. And unlike the Coalition’s announcement, our commitment also includes a public sector aged care facility with up to 60 beds to continue the good work at Cooinda. These are important differences,” she said.

Mr Blackwood said the ALP was burdening the Victorian taxpayer with an additional $275 million debt when they didn’t have to because federal government was responsible for aged care.

The Opposition also came under attack last week for allegedly walking away from its $8 billion regional health plan, of which the WGH commitment was a part of.

Liberal candidate for Narracan Wayne Farnham said the Opposition planned to shelve the first stage of the $35 billion suburban rail loop, allowing funds to be redirected into regional health. He said that plan had not changed.

Mr Farnham said he was pleased the ALP had finally supported the Liberals’ policy to build a new hospital in Warragul - “even though it’s eight years late.”

He said the aged care and training component of the Liberal pledge, worth about $200 million, were federal government responsibilities.

“If the Labor federal government don’t come to the party, we will still build the facility.

“Now that we have the business study, we are firm on our commitment and our assumptions for costs are correct.

“While they (ALP) have endorse our plan, I am sceptical about their intent when they announced it without a candidate for Narracan and without any involvement of the West Gippsland Healthcare Group board, shire councillors or the community.

“It would have had more validity if he had come out 12 months ago rather than 41 days before pre-poll starts,” Mr Farnham said.