Premier Steven Miles promises satellite hospital for Mackay, regional Qld

Premier Steven Miles has promised a satellite hospital to Mackay if re-elected in October but laughed off suggestions it was a political decision, claiming the Labor safe seat isn’t marginal despite polling showing otherwise.

Announcing a new satellite hospital in Mackay with candidate Belinda Hassan, Health Minister Shannon Fentiman, Premier Steven Miles laughed at the idea Mackay was a marginal seat. Photo: Fergus Gregg

Premier Steven Miles has laughed off claims of pork-barrelling despite promising another satellite hospital in an at-risk Labor-held electorate.

Mr Miles and Health Minister Shannon Fentiman on Monday promised to build Queensland’s eighth satellite hospital in Mackay if Labor is re-elected on October 26.

He is expected to pledge six more across Queensland before the election.

All are expected to be built in Labor-held electorates, including Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Hervey Bay, Yarrabilba and Caloundra.

They would add to the seven already operational, of which six are located in Labor electorates.

When asked to confirm satellite hospitals would continue to be slated for government-held seats, Mr Miles declared: “Wait and see”.

The premier laughed-off a question about why the hospitals were overwhelmingly located in at-risk Labor electorates.

“Mackay’s not a marginal seat,” he said.

Candidate Belinda Hassan, who herself was recently injured, said a satellite hospital was exactly what she needed when she was in a bike accident weeks prior. Photo: Fergus Gregg

It is held by retiring Assistant State Development Minister Julianne Gilbert on a margin of 6.7 per cent.

The LNP is confident it will win Mackay in October and current polling indicates it will be one of up to 23 seats Labor loses.

The six new satellite hospitals expected to be promised by Mr Miles adds to the seven opened by the state government following a 2020 election commitment made by Annastacia Palaszczuk.

There is little detail on the Mackay facility, with no location finalised and Mr Miles unable to say how soon after the state election work would begin.

The opposition has previously argued the lack of an emergency department means the facilities should not be called hospitals and accused Labor of misleading voters in 2020.

Mr Miles said the new facilities – including in Mackay – would take pressure off larger hospitals.

It will include a minor injury and illness clinic to provide free treatment for non-life threatening illnesses and injuries like fevers, ear aches, cuts, burns and broken bones.

Mackay’s satellite hospital could also host other specialist services such as mental health clinicians or dentists.

Mr Miles said it would be “way better” than the federal government’s urgent care clinics — which Mackay does not have, but Townsville and Rockhampton do.

Mackay Labor candidate Belinda Hassan, who is still strapped into a leg brace following a bike crash, said she could have used a satellite hospital after her accident.

“I would have been able to take advantage of it instead of clogging up the emergency department,” she said.

Originally published as Premier Steven Miles promises satellite hospital for Mackay, regional Qld