Thursday, 20 November 2025

 Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:59): My question is to the Minister for Health, and it relates to a request from many constituents in my electorate for a timeline on the delivery of the West Gippsland Hospital. I join wholeheartedly with my colleague the member for Narracan Wayne Farnham, who has raised this issue almost weekly for the last many years. The government promised $675 million in 2022 for the new West Gippsland Hospital, matching – but not quite matching – the Liberals and Nationals previous commitment to build it. Construction was supposed to start in 2024 and finish in 2028, but recent budgets have not allocated the construction funds, and the opening timeline of 2029 looks in very serious jeopardy. In 2023–24 the budget included $320 million for the Hospital Infrastructure Delivery Fund, with seven projects, including a sliver for West Gippsland Hospital. So I call on the minister to actually come forward, provide this timeline and get this hospital moving.

Sitting suspended 1:01 pm until 2:02 pm.