MEMBER for Mildura Ali Cupper has unleashed a stinging attack on the Andrews government over the long-delayed masterplan for a new local public hospital, saying she feels “strung along” and is “losing confidence” over whether the project will be delivered.
Just 56 days out from the next state election, the Independent MP has opened up on months of frustration after the Labor government’s “unfair” stalling tactics on when the Northern Mallee health masterplan will be released.
“I feel like I’m being strung along, and therefore our community’s being strung along by the government – and I think that is entirely unfair,” Ms Cupper said.
“I’m starting to lose my confidence in the sincerity of the Labor government. They are dragging their feet, and that much is clear.”
The government had promised to release the masterplan six months ago, but it has yet to materialise.
“I’ve been regularly contacting the government to ask what’s going on with the masterplan,” Ms Cupper said.
“The response is usually some variation on, ‘it’s not long now’, ‘it’s nearly there’, or ‘we hope to have something soon’.
“I’ve made it very clear with the government that I’ve tried to work constructively with them, and that I have worked (with them) in good faith.
“Over the last 18 months, and since the masterplan was funded, we’ve been given hope and expectation that this will progress through the stages.”
Calls for a new public hospital for Mildura grew two years ago, when the two-decade-old facility on Ontario Avenue was declared “outdated” and “not fit for purpose”.
Early in his new job after the hospital returned to public hands on September 15, 2020, chief executive Terry Welch said: “We clearly need a new facility.
“We’ve got four-bed wards. Four-bed wards went out 10 years ago.”
Mr Welch this week reiterated the need for a new hospital in Mildura and joined Ms Cupper in saying he was “frustrated as anyone else” over the delay of the masterplan’s release.
“I want the masterplan announced. But for me and the board, we have to sit tight and be patient, which isn’t easy for me,” Mr Welch said.
“There is no beating around the bush that this hospital has been outgrown by community demand.
“I declared that six weeks in and nothing has changed. It’s only getting worse.”
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas’ office and the health department did not respond to a request for comment.
It is unclear if Labor will be running a candidate at the November election.
Former candidate Tony Alessi said he was “not intending” to step up again at the 2020 poll.
Calls and emails to Labor’s state headquarters went unanswered this week.
