Michael Healy and Terry James trade barbs over Cairns surgical centre project ‘pause’

A Far North MP has accused the state government of disguising spending cuts with works on a 32-bed surgical centre at Cairns hospital halted following the release of the LNP’s rescue plan.

The LNP's Member for Cook, David Kempton, Member for Barron River, Bree James and Member for Mulgrave, Terry James have backed the decision to halt works on a surgical centre at Cairns Hospital. Picture: Samuel Davis

A Far North MP has accused the state government of disguising spending cuts to health infrastructure with works on a surgical centre at Cairns hospital suddenly halted following the release of the LNP’s rescue plan.

But the state government says the project was destined to fail with a complete review required to rein in skyrocketing costs and determine a better location for the service.

The four-theatre, 32-bed facility and the relocation of the hospital’s helipad have been paused with the surgical centre now expected to be completed in the second half of 2027.

Member for Cairns Michael Healy has questioned the LNP's decision to pause works on a 32-bed surgical centre in his electorate. Picture: Samuel Davis

Member for Cairns Michael Healy questioned why workers had downed tools on the major project in his electorate when others in the southeast corner marched forward.

“On the Gold Coast, at the Coomera Hospital, they’re going from 400 beds to 600,” Mr Healy said. “This isn’t about dealing with the cuts. This is a reallocation of priorities.

“Money is being ripped out of our budget here and it’s being invested in the southeast.”

Inside the construction site of the Cairns Hospital Expansion Project. Picture: Elodie Jakes

The claim was shot down by Member for Mulgrave Terry James, who said the pause was required to appoint a new design team, with eight new beds potentially to be added to the facility at an alternative site.

“(Labor) didn’t consult with local clinicians about the location of the surgical centre,” Mr James said. “Where they’re proposing has no room for expansion.

“There’s an old adage. If you fail to plan you plan to fail. That’s exactly what happened here.”

The project, initially costed at $250m, was forecast to exceed its budget by $378m according to the Sangster review into health infrastructure released on Wednesday.

“There’s a complete review underway,” Mr James said. “It will be redesigned, recosted, replanned.”

Works at Cairns Hospital have been halted. Picture: Stewart McLean

Mr Healy said he would hold the LNP to account to ensure the project was delivered for the Far North.

“They haven’t provided any future dates and future funding,” he said. “This should be enormously concerning for anyone in the Far North. What that tells me is it’s a cut. It will just disappear.

“We’re a growing population and yet they’re pulling resources out of here and giving them to the southeast.”

Cairns Hospital currently has 12 operating theatres with more than 3,300 people on the planned surgery waitlist between October and December.

Originally published as Michael Healy and Terry James trade barbs over Cairns surgical centre project ‘pause’