Victorian Liberals promise further $800m in hospital upgrades
A day after the writs were issued for this month’s Victorian election, some major shots are already being fired by the major parties.
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Less than a month out from the Victorian state election, the Liberal opposition has made another massive funding announcement, this time promising $800m in new and upgraded hospitals in Melbourne’s outer suburbs.
On Wednesday, a day after the writs were issued for the November 26 election, the state opposition led by Matthew Guy promised $500m for a new campus at Casey Hospital in the city’s south east and $300n for a new hospital in Upper Plenty in Melbourne’s north.
The announcements continue the intense funding battle centred on Victoria’s buckling public health system, which is shaping as the central issue ahead of the election.
The Liberals said the new commitments, which include a combined 250 new beds, 1500 carpark bays and new urgent care centres, would be funded by abandoning the Labor government’s $35bn Cheltenham to Box Hill rail link.
“As Premier, my No.1 priority is to fix the health crisis,” Mr Guy said on Wednesday.
“This November, Victorians have a choice. Real solutions to fix the health crisis or a train line from Cheltenham to Box Hill in 13 years time.”
The Liberal Party said the plan would reduce the pressure on the nearby Northern Hospital, where leaked minutes from a recent board meeting revealed senior nurses warning of patient deaths due to chronic staff shortages.
Wednesday’s announcement comes after a myriad of earlier healthcare commitments, including $550m to redevelop Caulfield Hospital, a new hospital in Melton, $600m for a new hospital in Wantirna, $900m for a new children’s hospital, and a new women and children’s hospital in Geelong.
Victorian Premier Dan Andrews promised in October to build the biggest hospital project in Australia’s history, a $6bn upgrade to the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Royal Women’s Hospital, as well as a new Arden medical precinct.
On Tuesday, the Labor Party began the campaign with a personal attack on Mr Guy and the Liberal Party, in a heavily edited video that mocked Mr Guy and former Liberal prime ministers Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison.
The opposition, for their part, responded with the “Ditch Danmobile”, a mock ambulance with “Ditch Dan” plastered to its panels.
Originally published as Victorian Liberals promise further $800m in hospital upgrades
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