NSW Government pumps brakes on free regional, rural hospital parking

The NSW government has pushed back a plan for free hospital parking in regional NSW, which was meant to start on July 1, as the health minister has reaffirmed his commitment to the promise.

Coffs Harbour Hospital was supposed to get free parking on July 1. Picture: Tim Jarrett

The state government has pumped the brakes on an election pledge to introduce free hospital parking in regional and rural NSW, which was supposed to start on July 1 and cost $14m over four years.

“It seems full-steam ahead for city pledges but not for regional NSW,” Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh said, whose electorate’s public hospital was one of those earmarked for free parking.

However, a spokeswoman for Health Minister Ryan Park said the “commitment would be delivered” and they would soon be making an announcement on the pledge.

The costed election pledge would have introduced free staff, patient and visitor parking from July 1 at six large regional and rural hospitals: Lismore, Coffs Harbour, Belmont, Maitland, Shoalhaven and Tweed.

Parliamentary Budget Officers in March put the cost of the move at $14m across the next for years, taking into account the estimated loss of staff and patient ticketing revenue at the six hospitals.

Six regional and rural NSW hospitals were supposed to have free parking by July 1. Picture: James Gourley

The start date, the costings revealed, should have been July 1, but the move has yet to be implemented.

Mr Singh said taxpayers outside the cities had been “taken for a ride” and clocked the delay while visiting Coffs Harbour hospital on the weekend, where he noticed a couple struggling with the parking machines.

“It’s a reasonably simple but important move – and it was in Labor’s costings,” Mr Singh said.

Maitland was another hospital earmarked for free parking.

“There’s very little options other than driving and parking at regional hospitals, unlike the city ones.”

Of the $14m from 2023-26 that would be foregone if paid parking was scrapped at the six hospitals, about $6.6m came from staff parking and $7.5 from the public, the PBO estimated.

Shadow Regional Health Minister Bronnie Taylor, who also made the free parking pledge while in the last state government, asked “where is it” and if there was a delay, why.

NSW Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh. Picture: Chris Knight

Shadow Regional Health Minister Bronnie Taylor. Picture: Gaye Gerard

“If they’re not going to do it, which is a tough decision, they should be honest as to why they’re making that decision,” she said.

The health minister’s spokeswoman said the state government was committed to the election pledge.

“We stand by this commitment and will have more to say about the extension in the coming weeks,” she said.

“The NSW Government is committed to providing access and delivering high-quality healthcare to patients in rural, regional and remote communities.”

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park’s office said it stood by the commitment and would soon make an announcement. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Dr Tony Sara said he was disappointed with the delay.

ASMOF NSW president Dr Tony Sara said the doctor’s union were wanted to see more for regional and rural doctors.

“Our union is disappointed to hear that the promise for free parking for doctors and patients has not yet materialised – this is a small commitment that makes everyone’s lives easier during a stressful time,” he said.

“Junior doctors working in regional and rural NSW can struggle to find a parking space, have to walk long distances late at night, or have to pay out of their own pocket when they do secure a spot.

“If we are going to keep our doctors and nurses in NSW, the government needs to demonstrate that they are valued.

“Paying for their parking at work is one way they can boost morale a little bit.”

News tip? Email [e-mail]