NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard slams a Moruya hospital sod turning
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has slammed a recent south coast hospital sod turning as ‘insensitive’ to the Indigenous community.
The South Coast News
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NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has slammed a recent hospital sod turning as “insensitive” to Indigenous people.
Mr Hazzard said during a visit to Moruya on Wednesday a recent unofficial sod turning from the ‘One Eurobodalla Hospital’ community group was insensitive to the Indigenous community.
“I think it was a little misleading to the broader community,” he said.
“I also saw some name calling referring to some of my national colleagues as a ‘dog pack’, or something similar.
“In public life, dignity is important, but so is community respect.”
One Eurobodalla Hospital President, Fitzroy Boulting said the unofficial sod turning (which had state member for Bega, Dr Michael Holland in attendance) came after ministers were committed to “other engagements”.
In reality, there was no official sod turning event planned as the Indigenous artefact salvage process had not yet occurred.
Dr Holland said the group respected the Indigenous community at their event.
“No soil was disturbed during this protest in respect for the traditional owners who were acknowledged on the day,” he said.
“In fact a petitioner brought his own bag of potting mix for the occasion.”
The South Coast News approached a member of One Eurobodalla Hospital for comment, but they declined to speak.
Heritage Manager of Biosis (a group who dig for artefacts on building sites), Samantha Kean said excavations undertaken on the hospital site had determined “subsurface artefacts”.
Ms Kean and Biosis were brought in by the state government to ensure no Indigenous artefacts were left on the land before the hospital was built.
So far, the group has uncovered three trees used by the original land owners to create canoes.
“Our purpose is to get as much material out of the ground as possible,” Ms Kean said.
Mr Hazzard’s comments came after he and former state member for Bega, Andrew Constance, called for the hospital project to be bipartisan.
“Building a hospital during a pandemic is not an easy process,” Mr Constance said.
“I’ve heard stories around the community that this was never going to happen; wrong.
“I wish health was like disability services; completely bipartisan.”
With the Indigenous artefact sweep commencing, Mr Hazzard said the State Significant Development Application for the hospital had been finalised and would be lodged with the Department of Planning and Environment shortly.
“Construction should commence in the coming months,” he said.
“You will be surprised with how quick the structure will go up when they start.”
Construction of the $260 million hospital is due for completion by 2025.
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