Tuesday, 12 May 2026

 Wayne FARNHAM (Narracan) (14:14): My question is to the Minister for Health Infrastructure. Prior to the 2022 election, the government promised a major redevelopment of the Wonthaggi Hospital, a new Maroondah Hospital and a new West Gippsland Hospital on a greenfield site. Why has the government broken this promise?

 Melissa HORNE (Williamstown – Minister for Ports and Freight, Minister for Health Infrastructure, Minister for Prevention of Family Violence) (14:15): From the outset can I reject the premise of the question in saying we have broken that promise, because in fact we have not. Indeed, as the budget papers show, there is an enormous amount of work that is going on into the planning of Warragul hospital, and I have sat down with the member for Narracan –

Members interjecting.

Melissa HORNE: Maybe they are interested in –

The SPEAKER: Order! Through the Chair, Minister.

Melissa HORNE: As I was saying, I have sat down with the member for Narracan to explain the detailed planning that is going on, particularly into the Warragul hospital, because this is a complicated site.

Wayne Farnham: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, it is a broken promise. The West Gippsland Hospital was committed to starting in 2024, and it has still not started to this day.

The SPEAKER: What is your point of order?

Wayne Farnham: Is it a broken promise? On relevance, Speaker.

The SPEAKER: That is not the correct way to raise a point of order.

Melissa HORNE: As I was saying, I reject the premise of the question outright. This is not a broken promise. There are works proceeding, indeed with detailed planning and design. But also we acknowledge that the existing Warragul hospital needs an upgrade, which is why we have allocated $65 million in this year’s budget for those hospital upgrades.

 Wayne FARNHAM (Narracan) (14:16): When will construction of the new West Gippsland Hospital be completed?

 Melissa HORNE (Williamstown – Minister for Ports and Freight, Minister for Health Infrastructure, Minister for Prevention of Family Violence) (14:16): I thank the member for his question, and I appreciate that he is a passionate advocate for his community. Nevertheless, detailed design and planning are underway, and meanwhile we are also investing in ensuring that the existing hospital has fit-for-purpose infrastructure.