Fight rages over promised Moruya radiology clinic

The fight for a Eurobodalla cancer clinic promised more than two years ago continues, with the shadow health minister and a federal candidate slamming the politician who made the undelivered promise.

Federal member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips, announcing federal funding of $8m for the radiotherapy in Moruya on May 4. Picture: Fiona Phillips website.

A federal politician who promised a multimillion-dollar radiology clinic for the Eurobodalla more than two years ago has been called out again, with no signs of the “needed” facility coming to the region.

Federal Labor MP Fiona Phillips promised the $8m cancer radiology clinic for Moruya in May 2022, with the facility pledged to operate in conjunction with the Eurobodalla Regional Hospital.

She said the facility would be delivered by the NSW Government with secured federal funding and would allow Eurobodalla residents to receive cancer care in their area, rather than travelling hundreds of kilometres to Canberra.

However construction has not started on the clinic.

In June last year, a letter to a Eurobodalla resident – provided to this publication – from NSW Health Minister, Ryan Park, unveiled a number of factors halting any construction.

Former state member for Bega, Andrew Constance, has slammed a federal funding commitment for an ‘unrealistic’ south coast cancer clinic as a ‘political con job’.

The letter revealed population size, the ability to recruit appropriately skilled clinicians and accommodation for workers needed to be addressed before the clinic could be built.

Shadow Health Minister Anne Ruston, in a visit to Moruya on Tuesday, said the “promised” radiology centre was needed in the Eurobodalla and said she was disappointed that more than two years on, nothing was happening.

The construction site of the $300m Eurobodalla Regional Hospital.

“The need for locally available healthcare services in regional areas is undeniable,” she said.

“We understand the challenges of accessing healthcare in regional Australia, and how we must seek to ensure that patients are not forced to travel hundreds of kilometres to access the healthcare they need.”

Liberal Candidate for Gilmore, Andrew Constance, previously slammed Mrs Phillips’ radiology promise as a “political con job”.

“This is absolutely appalling because it isn’t going to be built,” he said.

However, Mrs Phillips said Mr Constance was a hypocrite, claiming he did nothing to advocate for a radiology centre in the Eurobodalla during his time as a state MP.

“What is even worse and of hypocritical proportions, is that [Mr Constance] simply gave up federal funding and gave up any hope for a radiation therapy service,” she said.

Mr Constance – who also ran for Gilmore in the 2022 federal election – said he did not make any funding commitments as professionals in the medical field said the population could not facilitate the centre.

“We can’t commit to something if we’re not 100 per cent sure it will come to fruition,” he said.

Former NSW Health Minister, Brad Hazzard, did not commit on construction of the clinic.

Despite this, Mrs Phillips said she would not give up.

“I will continue to push from every angle to make sure this service is delivered,” she said.

“I’m not letting this go.”

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Originally published as Fight rages over promised Moruya radiology clinic