Thursday, 7 March 2024

West Gippsland Hospital

Wayne FARNHAM (Narracan) (14:37): My question is to the Minister for Health. The minister made an election promise in 2022 to build a new West Gippsland Hospital. Is construction going to start this year, as promised?

Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Health Infrastructure, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:37): I thank the member for Narracan for his question. Of course back in 2022 we made commitments to the people of Victoria, commitments that we intend to fully deliver on. I was really excited to be able to join with the former Premier to announce that we would build a new hospital for West Gippsland, that we would deliver a new Queen Elizabeth hospital at Maroondah and that the Dandenong Hospital would be upgraded. There is Wonthaggi Hospital, which I know the member for Bass is very, very excited about, the Monash Medical Centre and expanded EDs at the Northern and the Austin Hospital.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the question asked was whether West Gippsland Hospital construction is going to start this year.

The SPEAKER: The minister was being relevant to the question that was asked.

Mary-Anne THOMAS: In last year’s budget I was delighted when money was allocated for our hospital infrastructure development fund to commence the planning for these important upgrades and projects. I make this point to the member for Narracan: it is really important that we get the planning right, because what we do not want to see is a debacle like the eye and ear hospital that the previous Liberal government attempted to deliver. And you know what –

Wayne Farnham: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the government promised to start construction in 2024, and that is what I want answered.

The SPEAKER: The minister was being relevant to the question that was asked.

Mary-Anne THOMAS: Again I will make the point about the importance of planning. Building new hospitals is a complex business and on average can take between six and nine years, sometimes even longer, because we need to understand the condition of the ground and so on. This is what they failed to do with the eye and ear hospital. What we found when we went to continue to deliver the eye and ear project was that the health service was riddled with asbestos, something that those on the other side of the chamber fail to understand.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister is debating the question in a manner to avoid answering the question.

The SPEAKER: The minister was referring to planning. The minister was being relevant to the question.

Mary-Anne THOMAS: The Allan Labor government will continue to invest in our health infrastructure portfolio. We have a $15 billion portfolio. No other government has invested as much in health infrastructure as this government. Unlike those on the other side, we will not sell off our health services, we will not privatise them, we will not cut health services and we will not attack healthcare workers. We deliver on our –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, may I refer you to Speaker Maddigan’s ruling of August 2003 –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Member for Narracan, do you want to ask your supplementary question? Then you will come to order.

James Newbury: The very strong ruling is that an answer must directly relate rather than being general. I put to you that multiple times today the ministers have gone nowhere near responding to the question and have generally debated the question.

The SPEAKER: In reference to your point of order with the minister who is on her feet, the minister had strayed from the question. I ask you to make your points of order succinctly in relation to questions and to the ministers on their feet. The minister has concluded her answer.

Wayne FARNHAM (Narracan) (14:42): Recently Minister Shing publicly stated construction would begin in 2026. Why has the minister broken her promise to begin building the new West Gippsland Hospital in 2024?

Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Health Infrastructure, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:42): I welcome the supplementary question. Let us be very clear: you cannot start building a hospital until you have a plan to build the hospital. We have given a commitment to the people of West Gippsland, and we will deliver on that commitment.