Saturday 25 October 2014

Statement from Shadow Health Minister Jo-Ann Miller in regard to the Auditor General’s report on hospital building program

Media Release.


As the Auditor General clearly states on page three, the cost difference between the final business case and current budget for three major hospitals over eight years is 3%.

This represents a difference of $152 million with the Sunshine Coast University Hospital actually now $101 million under budget.

The final business cases expanded the scope of the three projects from the original announcements.

Labor invested to build the world’s best children’s hospital. This hospital is a world-leading design, built for the future. Clearly, its cost reflects that.

Cost changes in the largest hospital building program in the nation, in part can be attributed to inflation and standard cost escalation. Other costs emerged from extra beds and more services.

As stated in a media release by Lawrence Springborg on December 15, 2013, when he was well aware of the cost:

The 359-bed hospital will be the biggest public children’s hospital in the country, and the central hub of an enhanced state-wide network of children's health services that will benefit future generations of Queensland children and young people.

It is part of a $1.5 billion program of work, including an adjacent academic and research facility, the refurbished headquarters of the Children’s Hospital Foundation; land to accommodate families within the precinct; improved road access and a new Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal Service building.*

As a result of Labor’s health investment, Queensland now has state of the art hospitals in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.

The Auditor General has made recommendations to improve departmental health services planning which is supported.

Labor made all documents requested by the Auditor General available.

In stark contrast, the Newman Government is overseeing a building program consisting of one project- a new but unnecessary Executive Building in the Brisbane CBD that previous Auditor-General reports show will waste a monumental $2.6 billion of taxpayer funds over 10-15 years and benefit no one except for Campbell Newman, Lawrence Springborg and other Ministers.

Today provided a perfect example of Campbell Newman’s hypocrisy.

The Premier and the Health Minister today opened the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit in Townsville, which was committed to by the former Labor Government.

The LNP’s only record when it comes to health infrastructure is to cut the ribbons on Labor projects once they’re completed.

They have already cut the ribbon on the Gold Coast University Hospital built by Labor and I am sure they will have no qualms about smiling for the cameras at the opening of the new Children’s Hospital built by Labor.

*http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2013/12/15/childrens-hospital-to-honour-pioneering-queenslander

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