Budget wins for region

THIS year’s State Budget has delivered over $53 million worth of projects specifically for our region.

At long last, we secured funding for a residential drug and alcohol rehab facility based in Mildura.

It will save lives.

There’s money for major upgrades at Mildura Specialist School, for a pioneering tourism project at Lake Cullulleraine, and for a World War II Aviation Training and Kittyhawk Museum business case.

All of these wins have been hard-fought by our community, and it is amazing to see their efforts rewarded.

Since being elected in 2018, doors have been opened that previously have been closed tight to us, the most notable of which was the return of Mildura Base Hospital to public hands.

Management shifted to a focus on patients, rather than profit-making, and quickly identified that the current facilities were not fit for purpose.

We need a new hospital building.

This is a challenge I’ve taken to Spring Street, and both major parties are listening.

In last year’s Budget we secured $2 million for a hospital masterplan, which we will soon see released.

It will look at our health needs now and into the future, and base our infrastructure needs off that evidence.

The Liberal Party has already made a $750 million pledge for a new Mildura Base Public Hospital if it is elected in November.

The attention is absolutely welcome and I look forward to working with them on the project if they form government.

But it’s not November yet, far from it.

The State Government needs to get this masterplan released as soon as possible so we know what we’re dealing with.

I’m also gunning for the Labor Party to make an election commitment regarding Mildura Base Public Hospital.

The Libs have made their promise, and it’ll soon be time for Labor to make theirs once the master plan is out.

If we get that, Mildura will get a new hospital building, regardless of who forms government.

And we will have unquestionably changed the game.