LA Hansard 16 Nov 2022: Albury Wodonga Hospital

ALBURY-WODONGA HOSPITAL

Mr JUSTIN CLANCY (Albury) (12:09): I welcome the announcement that there will be a new hospital for Albury-Wodonga funded by two States and built years ahead of earlier estimates. Importantly, the new hospital directly satisfies the core requirement of our healthcare community that, for patient safety, the new hospital must be a unified, single-campus, acute services facility for Albury-Wodonga. It will be one of the biggest spends on a regional inland hospital for our State. Gaining consensus and joint funding from the two governments has not been a simple task. There is a history of shifting sands as to the needs and requirements, with the message to government changing over the journey. That has not necessarily served the cause well. My priority has been to seek healthcare outcomes for my community rather than the address.

On 14 May this year the board of Albury Wodonga Health wrote to the New South Wales health Minister.

The letter reads:

The Master Plan identifies the feasible options to consolidate acute and subacute services on either an existing or new site, aligning with our Clinical Services Plan, to deliver high-quality health care to our communities over the coming decades.

Although I have not seen the master plan and would welcome its release, I have been assured that it is the same clinical services plan that has informed consideration in the master plan irrespective of whether it is greenfield or brownfield—that is, the clinical services plan that informs the number of beds, theatres and car parks is the same for both the brownfield and greenfield options. The State health departments have been emphatic that this is their decision to make based on their experience in delivering across our State, from Culcairn, Henty and Wagga Wagga to our major metropolitan hospitals of Royal Prince Alfred, Nepean, Liverpool and Royal North Shore. They are all redevelopments of an existing site.

I do not doubt that there are factors that support greenfield. Yes, with redevelopment of the existing campus, there will be disruption. Yes, we will need to ensure funding delivery for the remaining stages. However, we also need to acknowledge that the Albury campus has extremely valuable and critical existing infrastructure in the cancer centre, Hilltops accommodation and yet-to-be-completed emergency department. Proximity to the airport is key for regional health care, and the staging of construction has been critical to enable the project progressing now. Good design is critical and delivery must be faithful to the master plan, and I have sought that assurance. It cannot be overstated how important the ongoing dialogue and work by the Premier and his office, the health Minister and regional health Minister and their respective offices have been in partnering with the Victorian Government to deliver an outcome. That has not happened previously, and I believe that separation sowed the seeds for issues that have arisen over management, governance and capital funding of the hospital.

Today represents a new start. Many in our community have worked hard advocating for a new hospital. I am reminded that no single person has a complete vantage point. For my part, though, it goes back to 2019. It has been an ongoing campaign to bring the matter to the attention of Ministers, Treasurers and Premiers. I have genuinely strained every fibre to reach this outcome. There have been setbacks; the pandemic and a change in Premier have impacted on the project, as well as time frame. It has been my concern to drive for an outcome prior to the end of this term and the Victorian Government's term. I have based that on the goodwill shared between the two governments currently and the knowledge that such goodwill does not always exist. I have also believed that only a Liberal‑Nationals Government could deliver. I have pushed for an accelerated timetable for construction and for the States to commit to a significant financial investment.

My community is concerned, as I am, with the pressures placed on doctors, nurses and staff who are working hard in a facility that has become stretched beyond capacity. The new hospital will be fit for the future. It will deliver not just top-quality health care but will be a regional site for research and education. It is a truly massive healthcare project and commitment from the States. Two health departments agreed on a course of action. Two governments committed to that action. Two Premiers present that action together. My community tells me that this announcement has been long awaited and to now get on with delivery.