THE Victorian Government has offered no explanation regarding the delay of a masterplan examining the need for a new hospital in Mildura.
The masterplan was due for completion in April, notably ahead of the State Budget, but that deadline quietly came and went.
Therefore, any funding for a new Mildura hospital was not included in the Budget.
Convenient? Depends who you ask.
Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley visited the present hospital at the start of May in the wake of that State Budget, and said after a tour of the facility that it was clear that current facilities were inadequate.
He claimed the state had funds available to build a new Mildura hospital and added that he expected to come here to make an announcement on the future of Mallee health services “very soon”.
“We know that the next missing piece in the puzzle is the physical services that the community expects here at their hospital. What holds this hospital back is clearly infrastructure,” Mr Foley said at the time.
The Health Minister also dismissed as a cynical political stunt the announcement by Opposition Leader Matthew Guy that he would spend $750 million on a new Mildura hospital if elected in November.
But it is now more than another month on since Mr Foley’s visit and still no word from the Government.
With a state election looming in November, the clock is ticking.
While the noise from the Victorian Government about the need for a new Mildura hospital (and it must be a new hospital, not a redeveloped one) remains positive, until a commitment is on the table, this electorate is right to be nervous.
After all, this is an electorate that has a history of being overlooked.
And the unexplained delay is also doing incumbent Member for Mildura Ali Cupper no favours.
Ms Cupper campaigned for her seat on the back of returning the management of the hospital to public hands, and has since led the fight for a new hospital to be built.
With the Opposition’s commitment on the table, various Coalition members are lining up for their free kicks.
Just last week, Liberal MP Wendy Lovell told State Parliament that the recent code yellow at Mildura Base Public Hospital was “proof of the crisis in Victoria’s health care system” and the “absolute necessity for the construction of a new hospital in Mildura”.
“In contrast, Mr Foley’s visit less than a month later came with no explanation as to why the new hospital’s masterplan, which was due to be completed in April, has been delayed until at least the middle of the year,” Ms Lovell said.
“The (Health) Minister (Martin Foley) has dragged his feet on a new hospital in Mildura and I call on him to provide an immediate funding commitment to build a world-class health service the Sunraysia and Mallee communities deserve.”
Liberal candidate for Mildura Paul Matheson and Nationals candidate Jade Benham have also been vocal on the Government’s non-commitment.
Ms Cupper is standing her ground on the issue, rightly pointing out that the government’s term in office had yet to come to an end, and that she would continue to push for a new hospital, with her stated preference a greenfields site on 15th Street.
“I look forward to Wendy’s sincere apology for her lack of faith in me if I manage to pull it off,” Ms Cupper said.
“The fight continues.”
Indeed it does.
Tick tock, tick tock, Mr Foley.
