Mental health upgrade finally underway after four years in limbo

The new Queensland Premier has wasted no time in addressing Rockhampton’s sickly health services.

Premier David Crisafulli announcing the progress of the Rockhampton Hospital Mental Health Unit upgrade with new LNP representatives (from left to right) Mirani MP Glen Kelly, Keppel MP Nigel Hutton and Rockhampton MP Donna Kirkland.

The new Queensland Premier has wasted no time in addressing Rockhampton’s sickly health services.

In the Beef Capital for just the second time since he was elected, David Crisafulli, flocked by Health Minister Tim Nicholls and the region’s three new LNP MPs, announced the Rockhampton Mental Health Unit upgrade was underway.

Mr Crisafulli used the construction announcement as a swipe at the former Queensland Labor Government for not delivering on its 2020 election commitment, saying the upgrade had been “neglected”.

“Quite frankly, (Rockhampton Hospital) needs its fair share of funding,” he said.

“It needs the resources and the local know-how to ensure that the health challenges that this region faces can be a thing of the past.

“We are committed to making sure that is delivered.”

Another issue that Mr Crisafulli touched on was the result of an Australian Medical Association Queensland (AMAQ) report which ranked Rockhampton Hospital as the worst in the state for career development and progression.

Mr Nicholls said mental health was a “critical” issue for Central Queenslanders.

“Today, over my shoulder here we have the early works commencing on the new mental health unit upgrade... we are going to go from 23 beds to 32 beds,” he said.

“We are going to get that project going because we know that mental health is critical to the health of Queenslanders - and none more so than here in Rockhampton and in Central Queensland.”

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said mental health was a “critical” issue for Central Queenslanders.

“That mental health facility was promised for the last eight years to our community and everyone here talked about it in the streets; they talked to me about it and now we are here today to talk about the early works and the delivery of that... in this region, mental health is a very real issue,” she said.

“It is an issue that reaches into almost every home.”

Member for Mirani Glen Kelly said mental health was also a problem in rural communities.

Member for Mirani Glen Kelly said people don’t realise how big of an issue mental health is in the bush.

“It doesn’t just happen in the cities, it happens out there in my electorate of Mirani, too,” he said.
Member for Keppel Nigel Hutton said the LNP wants to “hear your voice and we want to understand your experiences”.