Thursday, 29 May 2025

Point Cook community hospital

Trung LUU (Western Metropolitan) (21:56): (1688) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Health regarding vital health infrastructure in the western suburbs, with no money allocated to Point Cook community hospital in the 2025–26 state budget released last week. The action I seek is for the minister to update my constituents on the progress of this project. In the state budget the government promoted its investment of over $634 million into the healthcare system; however, not a single cent was promised for the Point Cook community hospital in my electorate. The Point Cook community hospital project was first promised back in 2018 along with 10 other community hospital projects across the state. Yes, the Labor government promised my constituents in 2018 that it was meant to be completed in 2024. The community hospital in Point Cook will cater for growing population demand, yet seven years on my constituents are still waiting for the promised hospital.

Over the last couple of years we have seen construction begin at Craigieburn community hospital in the north and Cranbourne community hospital in the south-east. The last update to my constituents about this project was the fact that a builder was appointed in 2022 – a builder appointed three years ago, four years after the announcement and no action since then. My community in the west is still waiting with great concern after seven years and no funding allocated in the current 2025–26 budget. The people of Point Cook desperately need an adequate health service in their region. Not only would the hospital provide mental health services close to home, but it would also relieve pressure on hospitals like Werribee Mercy and Sunshine hospitals, which are already struggling to cope with the healthcare crisis. The hospital was promised in 2018 to be completed by 2024, but we are now entering the later stage of 2025 and still work has not begun, and the project is nowhere near to being completed.

The question is: does the minister care about health outcomes for the people in the west in Point Cook? The people in the western suburbs deserve decent health care, not broken promises made by Labor and not budget blowouts.