State Election 2020: Labor promises seven new satellite hospitals

Labor has promised to spend $265 million over four years establishing seven new satellite hospitals across Queensland, while the LNP has pledged money to cut surgery waiting lists as campaigning in the state this morning focuses on health.

Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced seven new satellite hospitals across Queensland, in what she described as an Australian first.

LNP Leader Deb Frecklington’s morning campaigning also had a health focus, with the promise of hundreds of millions of dollars to clear a backlog on surgery waiting lists.

Ms Palaszczuk spent the morning campaigning in the marginal electorate of Pumicestone - held by outgoing LNP MP Simone Wilson by a wafer thin margin of 0.8 per cent.

She announced a re-elected Labor government would establish new satellite community hospitals in what she described as an Australian first in seven regions, including Bribie Island, the Redlands, the Gold Coast and Ipswich.

Ms Palaszczuk said it meant Queenslanders could get healthcare closer to where they live, with the commitment to cost $265 million over the next four years.

She said there would be more to come if they’re successful.

“These new satellite hospitals will also help provide the healthcare services families need in our rapidly growing outer-urban areas,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“This initiative is an important part of our ongoing economic recovery plan and will support up to 768 local jobs during construction.”

Ms Palaszczuk confirmed the commitment would be funded through borrowings.

Ms Frecklington has pledged $300m to clear a backlog on surgery waiting lists which she says has grown by about 26,000 patients in the past five years.

The Liberal National Party leader announced the funding in Hervey Bay, which is famed for its whale watching industry and significant population of retirees.

Ms Frecklington joined a group of seniors to discuss their waitlist woes, with many telling the Opposition Leader they and their family members had spent months in agony while waiting for surgery.

She said the waiting list for surgeries in the Hervey Bay hospital had grown by 51 per cent since Annastacia Palaszczuk became premier.

The $300m would be used to fast-track the surgeries of about 56,000 patients throughout Queensland by partnering with private hospitals.

Ms Frecklington said health waiting lists in her hometown of Kingaroy had inspired her to enter politics in 2012.

“I got into politics for many, many reasons, but one of the reasons was that the Kingaroy dental waitlist was eight years long and it was unacceptable,” she said.

“We got in (to government) and we fixed it up.

“Health all across Queensland, but in regional areas like this in the Wide Bay, is very important.

“People choose to live in regional Queensland because it’s beautiful, they deserve to have good healthcare.”