Qld election 2024: Steven Miles rejects claims of pork-barrelling

Premier Steven Miles has laughed off an uncomfortable suggestion as he unveils another satellite hospital, with more on the way.

Fergus Gregg and Hayden Johnson

2 min read

August 27, 2024 - 12:00AM

QLD Politics

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Premier Steven Miles has laughed off claims of pork-barrelling despite promising another satellite hospital in an at-risk Labor-held electorate.

Mr Miles and Health Minister Shannon Fentiman on Monday pledged to build Queensland’s eighth satellite hospital in Mackay if Labor was re-elected on October 26.

He is expected to promise six more across Queensland before the election.

All are tipped to be built in Labor-held electorates, including Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Hervey Bay, Yarrabilba and Caloundra.

They would add to the seven already operational, of which six are located in Labor electorates and one is in the LNP’s most marginal electorate – Currumbin – held by 0.5 per cent.

When asked to confirm satellite hospitals would continue to be slated for government-held seats, Mr Miles declared: “Wait and see.”

Previously, he said the list was still being worked through.

He laughed off a question about why the hospitals were overwhelmingly located in at-risk Labor electorates.

“Mackay’s not a marginal seat,” he said.

It is held by retiring Assistant State Development Minister Julianne Gilbert on a margin of 6.7 per cent.

The LNP is confident it will win Mackay in October, and current polling indicates it will be one of up to 23 seats Labor loses.

Premier Steven Miles and Health Minister Shannon Fentiman

The six new satellite hospitals expected to be promised by Mr Miles adds to the seven opened by the state government following a 2020 election commitment made by then premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

All except one of the seven operational satellite hospitals are located in Labor-held electorates.

There is little detail on the Mackay facility, with no location finalised and Mr Miles unable to say how soon after the state election work would begin.

The Opposition has previously argued the lack of an emergency department means the facilities should not be called hospitals and accused Labor of misleading voters in 2020.

Mr Miles said the new facilities – including in Mackay – would take pressure off larger hospitals.

It will include a minor injury and illness clinic to provide free treatment for non-life threatening illnesses and injuries like fevers, ear aches, cuts, burns and broken bones.

Mackay’s satellite hospital could also host other specialist services such as mental health clinicians or dentists.

Mr Miles said it would be “way better” than the federal government’s urgent care clinics, which Mackay did not have.

Mackay Labor candidate Belinda Hassan, who is still strapped into a leg brace following a bike crash, said she could have used a satellite hospital after her accident.

“I would have been able to take advantage of it instead of clogging up the emergency department,” she said.

“Being able to offer a service like this is that will alleviate that pressure is a fantastic outcome.”