State Opposition corrects stance, now backs critical Cairns University Hospital infrastructure projects
The Queensland Opposition says its commitment to the Cairns Health Innovation Centre has “never wavered”, despite an earlier refusal to commit to the key health project.
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The Queensland Opposition says its commitment to the Cairns Health Innovation Centre has “never wavered”, despite an earlier refusal to commit to the key health project.
The CHIC project is an “integral” component to the Cairns University Hospital transition, alongside a $250m Cairns Hospital expansion project and James Cook University’s Cairns Tropical Enterprise Centre.
With the State Government leaving the $160m CHIC project off this year’s budget, the Cairns Post asked the office of Opposition Leader David Crisafulli whether a previous commitment by his predecessor Deb Frecklington from 2020 still stood.
Mr Crisafulli’s office provided a response which did not address the question.
The Cairns Post went back to Mr Crisafulli’s office pushing for an answer.
An Opposition spokesman still did not confirm the party’s commitment to the project, saying their policy platform for 2024 was still being assessed but “all options were on the table”.
Several hours after this article was published, Opposition health spokeswoman Ros Bates issued a statement saying: “To be very clear the LNP committed to delivering Cairns a University Hospital which includes the Cairns Health Innovation Centre and that commitment has never wavered”.
Advance Cairns has long listed a university hospital as infrastructure critical to meeting the region’s future health needs.
The Queensland government committed to transforming Cairns Hospital to a university hospital prior to the 2020 election.
In December 2021 the government spruiked a land purchase agreement between CHHHS and James Cook University as the “first step” towards delivery of the CHIC.
The CHIC project then appeared in the government’s 2022 major projects pipeline document with a $160m spend allocated for “2023/24 and beyond”.
The project was bypassed by the state budget this year, leaving it one last chance for funding prior to the 2024 Queensland state election.
The LNP Opposition had echoed the government’s promise of a Cairns University Hospital prior to the 2020 election.
Advance Cairns chairman Nick Trompf earlier said confidence in the project depended on shovels hitting the ground before the election.
“The state government gave the commitment before the last election that we’ll get a university hospital, but we won’t be getting that without appropriate facilities; the CHIC is an integral part of that process,” Mr Trompf said.
“Not only did the Premier promise this at the last election but she reaffirmed that promise during regional parliament in May.
“We remain committed to pursuing the state on this.”
Mr Trompf said securing a recommitment from the Opposition to the CHIC was important for the longevity of the University Hospital project.
“The Opposition is running on a platform of health, cost of living, and law and order, and the opposition is in a position where it could win at the next election,” he said.
As of Monday morning, that commitment from the Opposition is now solid.
A Queensland government spokeswoman said a detailed business case for the CHIC was still incomplete.
“A detailed business case for the CHIC started in January 2022,” the spokeswoman said.
“The CHIC business case will inform what happens next.
“The commencement of construction of CHIC will be dependent on investment approval, Cultural Heritage and Indigenous Land Use Agreement negotiations and planning approvals which can be protracted.
“I have been advised that the business case for CHIC is expected to be completed by the end of the year.”
The Cairns ambulance station and operations centre is also awaiting a $14.4m upgrade after initial commitments by the government in 2017, which have since been modified.
More than $10m was allocated for “2023/24 and beyond” in the government’s major projects pipeline.
A QAS spokeswoman said the project was due for completion in “late 2025”.
“Detailed planning is under way in consultation with architects and quantity surveyors to investigate alternate building options to secure a design that is fit for purpose, meets current and future operational demand and is value for money,” the spokeswoman said.
“Funding of $1.175m is included in the 2023/24 financial year to advance the design and tender for Stage 1 of the project to deliver a new OpsCen in Cairns.”
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Originally published as State Opposition corrects stance, now backs critical Cairns University Hospital infrastructure projects
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