THE Victorian Government’s announcement that Mildura Base Hospital will be returned to public hands is the biggest win of Ali Cupper’s political career.
When it came to the future of the hospital, Cupper placed all her chips on the table.
There was no hedging of bets, no sitting on the fence.
She successfully campaigned in the state election on the issue, made it her focus during an emotive maiden speech in parliament, and drew a line in the sand with the Labor Government.
She went all in, so much so that had Premier Daniel Andrews’ decision gone the other way, it was difficult to see how she could have politically recovered.
But it didn’t.
And, for Cupper and for the Mildura electorate, it could be a symbolic moment.
The hospital decision is the first piece of real evidence that the Labor Victorian Government, often accused of being city-centric and ignoring the bush, will listen to an independent Member for Mildura.
“This result is a testament to the advocacy of Ali Cupper and every single local campaigner who have been tireless in their fight to get their hospital back,” Mr Andrews said.
“We look forward to working closely with Ali Cupper and the community over the next year, as we do the hard work to bring Mildura Base back into back in public hands.”
And then this from Health Minister Jenny Mikakos: “We’ve heard the passionate call for change in Mildura loud and clear – and we’re getting it done,” she said.
“This is a big win for Mildura, local patients and hospital staff.”
For Cupper, though, the hard work is only just beginning.
The transition of our hospital from private management back to public management will be challenging for this community.
Change is difficult and the hard-working staff, who have never been the issue in this debate, will be anxious about what lies ahead.
The community, too, has got what it wished for, but still doesn’t exactly know what that looks like.
Cupper needs to take a lead role in all of this, in terms of both communication to her own community and advocating on behalf of us to ensure those better health outcomes are achieved.
We can’t see local services diminished as part of this change — they have to be increased.
Higher-level medical treatment can’t be taken away and streamlined to a medical hub in Bendigo, as has been rumoured. It has to remain here.
We need those assurances. And then some.
While Cupper deserves credit for this win, which she fought alongside many others over a long time, she certainly can’t hang her hat on it.
Outside the hospital, there are other projects in this electorate that need funding. There are other services we require.
It was great that Daniel Andrews made his first visit to Mildura in years on Friday, as this community had long felt forgotten by the State Government.
It’s an encouraging sign that Ali Cupper has grabbed the government’s attention.
The challenge now is to keep them listening.
