2 days Ago By Ted Howes
A federal government injection of $200 million to upgrade a hospital in Western Australia has spurred hope in the . or signup to continue reading Border civic leaders Michael Gobel and Kevin Mack said the news reinforced their belief that federal governments could have a role to play in funding health infrastructure. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Western Australia on Monday morning said the funding for the St John of God Midland Public Hospital would deliver more beds and a new emergency department.
Wodonga mayor, Cr Gobel said he saw the funding announcement as going a long way to . "We're very enthused by this, because it's a repudiation of the fact that this narrative that we've been getting for years that federal governments don't build hospital infrastructure is rubbish," Cr Gobel said. "But what about us? I know the line is 'what about me' but I might send him that song on Spotify," he said, referring to the song originally a 1982 Moving Pictures hit.
"Three days into an election being called, what happens? Two hundred million drops towards rebuilding an eastern Perth suburb hospital - $200 million of a $355 million rebuild. "So here we are sitting on the Border, the only cross-border-funded hospital in the country, with what's been demonstrated as an acute deficiency of infrastructure for not only our future needs, but our current needs, and the only contribution from the federal government to date, is . "It's evidence that the federal government has a role to play in dealing with healthcare and healthcare health infrastructure, and it also demonstrates that our local members have a role to play in advocating for the needs of our community, the healthcare needs of our community.
" Albury mayor, Cr Mack, said he hoped the revelation might "wake up" Farrer MP Sussan Ley. "I don't understand what the local member's been doing," Cr Mack said. "There are examples, clear examples, where they [federal government] funded hospitals; here, yet again, is another one.
"There's always hope, and we'll continue to push forward. This is a positive step in the right direction, and in relation to this issue. "I think he would have known when he met with us the other day that this was coming so, hence, he probably was open to this discussion.
"I just think it's really positive and we will be maintaining the pressure in that aspect." When Ms Ley's office was asked for a response to Mr Albanese's WA announcement and whether she would back any moves for federal funding for a greenfield hospital for Albury-Wodonga if the Coalition wins the election, was referred to earlier comments. "I do not agree with pausing the existing [redevelopment] plan, which would allow both states to send this project off into the never never," Ms Ley told on March 28.
"Ministers Butler and Park met with our people and made some soothing noises, but they need to be honest with our community. "The Commonwealth cannot - and will not - spend somewhere near $1 billion, well over 60 per cent of a new build, just because Victoria and NSW refuse to. "That is not realistic.
" Mr Albanese said: "Whether it be our funding for public hospitals, our health and hospitals agreement delivered $1.7 billion extra this year, an agreement that we signed up with states and territories earlier this year." DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team.
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