$30m Redland Hospital funding under cloud ahead of federal budget

Strict plans to claw back billions of dollars of debt in tomorrow’s federal budget have raised concerns about legacy funding of $30 million for the delayed Redland Hospital.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers, left, said cuts have to be made and Bowman MP Henry Pike, right, said he has asked if the allocated hospital funding will still be spent.

Strict plans to claw back billions of dollars of debt in tomorrow’s federal budget have unearthed concerns about legacy funding of $30 million for the delayed Redland Hospital.

Former Health Minister Greg Hunt promised the funding during an election campaign in 2019 and it was entered as a line item in the 2020 budget.

The state government also promised $32 million for the project which would include a new intensive care unit and additional beds at the hospital in Cleveland.

Concerns about the Redland Hospital funding were raised after state MP Don Brown called for the Metro South Health Board to be sacked.

Mr Brown said the board’s seven directors and two chairs were “asleep at the wheel” and he had been lied to about upgrades to the hospital.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers, who will hand down the Labor Party’s first federal budget since 2013, has told voters the country has to find $6.4 billion extra to pay for unfunded promises and cost blowouts from the former government.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says cuts have to be made.

Bowman MP Henry Pike said he had asked all relevant federal ministers, including Health Minister Mark Butler, whether the $30 million for the hospital upgrade was in this year’s budget.

“I’ve written to all the relevant ministers to ask about the legacy funding, which was promised by the previous government and included in forward estimates, and none were willing to say the money would be there,” he said.

Budget analysts will also be scouring tomorrow’s document looking for an allocation of $16 million promised for the hospital’s carpark, where construction is already under way.

A further $15 million was promised by the previous government for works to widen Wellington St, a major road where Redland mayor Karen Williams crashed her car in June.

The first stage of that project was due to be completed early next year but works are yet to start.

Other projects which have had money promised include $500,000 for Cleveland’s Women & Co to expand its premises and provide more support to victims of domestic violence.

Bowman MP Henry Pike says he has received no word on whether the allocated funding for the Redland Hospital will be spent this year.

The Yulu-Burri-Ba Clinic at Dunwich was promised $1.9 million for health infrastructure support, including an expansion of the centre, purpose-built dongas and fit-out.

The Macleay Island Arts Complex was promised $1.5 million for a new purpose-built facility to replace existing premises and Victoria Point Sharks AFL Club was also promised $250,000 for junior female change rooms.

The Redlands Rays Baseball Club, the Capalaba Warriors Rugby League Club and the Redlands Parrots Rugby Leagues Club were all promised $90,000 each for lighting.

There was $40,000 promised for the Bay Island Multi Sport and Recreation Association to upgrade clubhouse facilities while the Capalaba Bulldogs Soccer Club was promised $50,000 for clubhouse upgrades.

Redlands Touch Football Association was promised $30,000 to fit-out the clubhouse while Redlands Rugby Union Club was promised $60,000.