Albany Hospital Funding Questions

In a Budget Estimates Committee hearing in Parliament, a $50 – $80million black hole in the Barnett Government’s hospital capital works budget was exposed.

“Documents gained under Freedom of Information by Labor reveal that the Department of Health has only budgeted $135million to rebuild Albany Hospital despite acknowledging that the project may cost in excess of $200million,” Mr Cook said.

“The funding black hole comes on top of the Barnett Government’s broken promise over the timing of the new hospital.

“Health Minister Kim Hames has deliberately misled the people of Albany.

“Member for Albany Peter Watson and I have said for months that the $135million budget was inadequate to re-build the hospital facility.”

Under sustained questioning today, the Health Minister was forced to admit that he was aware the new Albany Hospital would cost more but had not provided the full funding.

Member for Albany Peter Watson said the Barnett Government also admitted that the hospital will now be delayed.

“The Barnett Government promised the Albany community that it would build the hospital in one stage by 2012,” Mr Watson said.

“Voters will remember that any commitments made by the Barnett Government in the lead up to the next election will be nothing but empty promises.”