Thursday, 20 February 2025

 Anthony CARBINES (Ivanhoe – Minister for Police, Minister for Community Safety, Minister for Victims, Minister for Racing) (09:51): Can I just say that works to upgrade the emergency department of the Austin Hospital are now underway. The designs for the multimillion-dollar expansion have been released and once complete will treat 30,000 more emergency patients a year. At the Austin we already treat over 100,000 patients a year. It has been made possible by a $275 million investment by the Allan Labor government. The three-level facility will deliver some 29 more emergency treatment spaces, an upgraded short-stay unit and improved clinical administration spaces. The works will conclude in 2028, but significant works are now underway and throughout the rest of this year. The Austin Hospital is much loved in my community. Can I say that it was those opposite under the Kennett government who sought to privatise the Austin Hospital. It was the Bracks government that built two hospitals on one site with the Austin and Mercy hospitals. It is the Labor government again that will invest some $275 million in a new emergency department at the Austin Hospital. We love the Austin Hospital. Only Labor can be trusted to invest in the Austin Hospital.