Victoria announces touching tribute to Queen; grand plan to welcome King Charles

The Andrews government announced a billion-dollar commitment that will also serve as a permanent tribute to Queen Elizabeth.

The Andrews government will rebuild a major hospital in Melbourne’s east and rename it in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth II, if re-elected at the state election.

The state government on Sunday pledged more than $1bn to expand Maroondah Hospital in Ringwood East, one day after the opposition committed $400m to the same project.

The Queen Elizabeth II Hospital will treat an extra 9000 patients, including 22,400 presentations to the emergency department.

The hospital will feature brand new operating theatres, day procedure facilities and specialist care spaces, as well as a larger medical imaging unit and a new emergency department.

Two six-storey in-patient towers housing more than 200 extra beds will be built as part of the expansion, designed to meet growing hospital capacity demands in the eastern suburbs.

The hospital’s new emergency department will have an extra 14 treatment spaces, including dedicated areas for children and a mental health hub for people experiencing psychological distress.

The rebuild and refurbishment is expected to cost up to $1.5bn, with the hospital to begin opening in stages from 2029.

Construction will commence in 2025, with the project set to create about 2500 jobs.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the hospital would provide a lasting legacy for the Queen, who was a “longstanding supporter of Victoria’s healthcare system”.

Daniel Andrews announced the state’s touching tribute to the Queen. Picture: David Crosling

“Queen Elizabeth holds a special place in the hearts of Victorians. A re-elected Andrews Labor Government will rebuild and expand Maroondah Hospital before renaming it in Her Majesty’s honour,” Mr Andrews said.

It comes as the state opposition on Saturday pledged $400m for a major upgrade to the same hospital.

But the Premier slammed the Victorian Liberals for only providing “half of what’s needed” to deliver the vital rebuild of the Maroondah Hospital.

“That’s why we’re going to build the Queen Elizabeth II hospital for what it costs — more than a billion dollars,” he said.

“They didn’t really make a commitment to revamp Maroondah, they made a commitment to half do-it,” the Premier said.

“(The opposition is) not particularly relevant to what we’re announcing today and they showed that with the absolute inadequacy of the commitments that they made yesterday.”

Mr Andrews said $400m was not enough to rebuild the hospital properly, describing the amount committed by the Opposition as “fundamentally wrong”.

“Providing half or less than half what’s needed is wrong. That’s not right,” Mr Andrews said.

“Let’s be really clear about this, they’re going to build a whole lot of stuff, including an ED (emergency department) for $400m. The ED alone costs $370m.

Plans are already underway to welcome King Charles III back to Victoria. Picture: AFP

Opposition leader Matthew Guy rubbished the Premier’s criticisms in response.

“I’ll wait until I see some proper figures from when we’re in government, than take this Labor government on their figures. I mean, these are the same people who said they could build the North-East Link for $6bn,” Mr Guy said.

“I wouldn’t trust them when it comes to money, particularly when they’re making commentary about my commitments.”

Mr Guy said he was very confident the funding allocated to the project by the Liberal Party was enough.

“We’ve had our commitments through the Parliamentary Budget Office, which is a hell of a lot more independent than the state Labor government, and I trust the Parliamentary Budget Office to give us the right details and data, and they have been,” Mr Guy said.

“We will not be lectured by this bloke when it comes to fixing the health systems. Problems in Victoria’s health system today are caused by Daniel Andrews and his government.”

Meanwhile, King Charles will be formally invited to open Victoria’s Commonwealth Games, amid hopes he might even visit here before the 2026 event.

The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal plans are already underway to invite the monarch to launch the regional games at the MCG’s Opening Ceremony.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the state government would support the formal invitation when it was made.

“The Victorian Government extends its sincere condolences to His Majesty King Charles III and the Royal Family in their time of mourning following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” he said.

The royals during a tour of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games athlete’s village in 2018. Picture: Getty Images

“As is appropriate, the State Government respects the period of national mourning and will adhere to the relevant protocols at this time.

“At an appropriate and respectful time, we will support a formal invitation to His Majesty King Charles III to visit Victoria as Head of the Commonwealth and open the 2026 Commonwealth Games – as his mother, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, did in 2006.”

Close to 80,000 people packed into the MCG in 2006 while an estimated audience of 1.5 billion tuned in on television to watch the opening of the Melbourne Games.

Dignitaries, including then Prime Minister John Howard, former Premier Steve Bracks and Prince Edward were welcomed to the event.

A white car driven around the outside of the stage delivered the guest of honour, Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by her husband, the late Prince Philip.

Former Victorian Governor and athletics doyen John Landy carried the baton to Queen Elizabeth.

“Victorians have many happy memories of Her Majesty’s time in our state, opening our Games, visiting our regional cities and towns and her affection for our state and its people will always be remembered,” Mr Andrews said.

“Victoria and the Royal Family have a deep and enduring connection, one which will only be strengthened as we embark on our shared journey to celebrate Victoria 2026.”

The former Prince Charles greets people during his visit to Flemington Racecourse in 2012.

King Charles would be formally invited by the Commonwealth Games Federation.

In a Commonwealth Games first, Victoria 2026 will introduce a multi-city model that delivers global sport to four regional hubs in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland.

Each of those hubs will have its own athletes’ village and host a range of sports that will create a legacy for Victoria that extends well beyond the competition period.

The King last visited Australia in 2018 to perform official duties for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, including reading the Queen’s message at the opening ceremony.

Sources close to the government say there are hopes the King and Queen Consort Camilla might visit Victoria before 2026.

He is expected to make reaching out to the realms a priority especially with debate on an Australian republic expected to intensify.

“They would both be massive Australian wide tours,” the source said.

“Camilla doesn’t like long flights so it will be one where they make it truly worth her while to come all this way.”

However the King looks set to be beaten to Australia by his son Prince William, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirming talks are underway about a potential royal tour.

“There have been some preliminary discussions about the now Prince and Princess of Wales visiting Australia,” Mr Albanese told ITV.

It would mark the couple’s first trip to Australia in almost a decade following their last visit in 2014 with then nine-month old son Prince George.

Originally published as Victoria announces touching tribute to Queen; grand plan to welcome King Charles