Opposition leaders claim the state government plans to delay hospital bed deliveries in Cairns

The Queensland Opposition claims a secret report reveals major works planned at Cairns’ Hospital could be delayed.

The Queensland Premier has rejected any suggestion the Cairns Hospital expansion will be delayed.

Opposition Deputy Leader Cameron Dick said the state government had a plan to delay the delivery of hospital beds while he was in Cairns on Thursday.

The $250m project to expand Cairns Hospital facilities was set to include a 64-bed refurbishment, dedicated day surgery spaces, four modern operating theatres, 32 additional short stay beds and outpatient consulting rooms.

Construction was expected to reach completion in mid-to-late 2026.

“Today we know the government has a secret plan to delay the delivery of hospital beds, including crucial expansions in Cairns. This will directly affect Queenslanders’ access to healthcare,” he said.

Cameron Dick, Deputy Queensland Opposition Leader, addressed the media at Cairns on Thursday, March 27, 2025 - Picture: Richard Walker

“This is not what the people of Queensland were promised.”

Mr Dick said Queenslanders couldn’t rely “on a single word” Premier David Crisafulli.

“To delay the delivery of hospital beds in Queensland is to deny Queenslanders good healthcare.”

The Opposition claimed the information came from the state’s Health Minister Tim Nicholls alongside a review into health infrastructure which the LNP “refuse to release”.

“My source is Tim Nicholls and David Crisafulli should have a chat with him,” Opposition Leader Stephen Miles said.

“He said they’ve known for some time they would not deliver on that commitment.”
Mr Miles said the government had the results of the health infrastructure review but had refused to make them public.

“We would know their reason for not delivering if they would release their secret report.”

Opposition leader Stephen Miles said the government had the results of the health infrastructure review but had refused to make them public. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

He said the review may provide justifications for the delay, but the Premier promised Queenslanders additional hospital beds during the election, and was failing to deliver.

“There was a very big expansion planned for the hospital in Cairns and that is currently on pause,” Mr Miles said.

He said the pause would not only delay the delivery of the project but could make it more expensive.

“It doesn’t make any sense to me if you do intend to deliver this project, why you would not allow the Hinterland Health Service to continue the work to deliver it?” Mr Miles said.

Mr Crisafulli, in response, has dismissed the claims as inaccurate.

“There absolutely is no change,” he said.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said there were no cuts to healthcare services in the region. Photo: Supplied.

During a press conference in Cairns on Thursday, Mr Crisafulli said there were no cuts to healthcare services in the region.

“The complication is the opposition comes in and they just say things they also know isn’t the case,” he said.

“It doesn’t do any good for the people who roll up their sleeves and go and work there, the people who want the opportunity to build, what hasn’t been built in the last 10 years.”

Mr Miles added: “Instead of talking about the Olympics, he (Mr Crisafulli) should have focused on the important issues for Cairns, like confirming the Cairns Hospital expansion will continue as planned. “However, he chose not to make that announcement and instead talked about the Olympics.”

Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Opposition leaders claim the state government plans to delay hospital bed deliveries in Cairns