Daniel Andrews under fire from Indigenous groups over hospital

Indigenous groups say the Queen Elizabeth II hospital name will make Aboriginal Victorians feel ‘culturally unsafe’.

Daniel Andrews with Marcus Stewart, Co-chair of the First Peoples' Assembly. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Indigenous groups and the Greens have attacked the Andrews government for naming a new Melbourne hospital after Queen Elizabeth II, claiming the move will make Aboriginal Victorians feel “culturally unsafe”.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Sunday announced a re-elected Labor government would spend between $850m and $1.05bn on rebuilding the Maroondah hospital in Melbourne’s east.

Mr Andrews said the rebuilt hospital would be named after the late monarch, “as a mark of respect to her unwavering commitment to healthcare and our community”.

But the decision was quickly condemned by the co-chairman of Victoria’s First People’s Assembly – the Indigenous body established by the Andrews government to develop a treaty framework.

“With just a few words the government has turned the Maroondah hospital into a culturally unsafe place for our people,” assembly co-chairman Marcus Stewart said on Monday.

“This is a stark reminder of why treaty is so critical. It can put an end to the hurtful platitudes of the powerful,” said Mr Stewart, who is the husband of Victorian Labor senator and former Andrews government staffer Jana Stewart.

Mr Andrews deflected when asked on Monday whether Indigenous groups had been consulted about the name change, saying the surrounding local government area would retain the name Maroondah.

Some thoughts on the new name. https://t.co/NFn9uXnqxnpic.twitter.com/nPoHxpLh3p

— Marcus Stewart (@marcusbstewart) September 19, 2022

“The local government area remains named appropriately,” Mr Andrews said. “This is a new hospital and it’s going to get a new name.

“We’re very, very excited about this project, and it is, I think, a fitting tribute to somebody who was a great supporter of our health system.”

The war of words came as the Victorian Electoral Commission revealed it was expecting a record proportion of Victorians to vote early in the forthcoming state poll, with more than 50 per cent expected to have cast their ballots ahead of election day on November 26.

The VEC confirmed it would open 155 early voting centres – 50 per cent more than in 2018 – with late night voting available up until 8pm on the final three days before election day, and centres open on the Saturday prior to Election Day.

Greens Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe slammed the decision on social media, tweeting: “This is not what Treaty looks like, Dan.”

“Maroondah is a Woiwurrung word meaning leaf, which symbolises Maroondah’s green environment. What an insult to now colonise us, again,” Senator Thorpe tweeted.

This is not what Treaty looks like, Dan. Maroondah is a Woiwurrung word meaning leaf, which symbolises Maroondah’s green environment. What an insult to now colonise us, again. https://t.co/sffcOn5ESA

— Senator Lidia Thorpe (@SenatorThorpe) September 18, 2022

More than 4000 people had signed an online petition opposing the renaming late on Monday.

The Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation said it was “extremely disappointed” by the plans to rename the hospital.

“At a time when important progress is being made towards treaty and a voice to parliament, the lack of consultation around the name change is a disheartening move and puts a question mark on the commitment of governments to walk with First Peoples,” the organisation said.