LNP’s secret health review puts Cairns Hospital Expansion under the knife
- Queensland Labor Opposition
- Mar 27
- 3 min read
Cairns Hospital expansion faces axe under LNP review
Labor calls for David Crisafulli and LNP Government to rule out cuts as LNP looks to slash $6 billion from health system
Hospital expansion will deliver an 96 additional beds
The Labor State Opposition has called on David Crisafulli to rule out cuts to the Cairns Hospital Expansion amid fears the project could soon be axed by the LNP.
A secret plan to cut new and expanded hospitals is sitting on Health Minister Tim Nicholls desk, while tradies are sacked and health workers live in fear for their patients.
Despite telling Queenslanders there would be no cuts to health, David Crisafulli has put the Townsville University Hospital expansion on ice, scrapped incentives to attract health workers to the regions, and reduced hours at nurse-led clinics.
This follows Premier David Crisafulli indicating he’s looking to slash $6 billion from healthcare in Queensland.
There are now reports the LNP Crisafulli Government is looking to delay the Queensland Cancer Centre and reduce the scope on the new the 404-bed Bundaberg Hospital.
This has caused fresh fears the Cairns Hospital Expansion, which would deliver an additional 96 beds for the region, could be next as a result of the LNP’s audit of Labor’s multi-billion-dollar health big build.
Queenslanders are quickly learning David Crisafulli’s word means nothing.
The Premier said there would be no cuts to health but took an axe to it anyway and now he’s building a new stadium in south-east Queensland despite promising that he wouldn’t.
Speaking in Cairns on Thursday, Opposition Leader Steven Miles called on the LNP to deliver the Cairns Hospital expansion in full, and rule out cutting any planned services, or beds.
Quotes attributable to Opposition Leader Steven Miles:
“David Crisafulli’s broken promises to Queenslanders are adding up.
“He promised time and time again there would be no new stadium, and yet he is building one anyway.
“And he said there would be no cuts to health, but that hasn’t stopped him from taking a scalpel to services, and projects.
“Right now, the Crisafulli Government is sitting on a review into Queensland’s Big Health Build, which will likely green light more cuts to new and expanded hospitals – just like the one here in Cairns.
“David Crisafulli should be honest with Queenslanders and admit that he lied about cuts to health, just as he lied about no new stadiums in a ploy to get elected.”
Quotes attributable to Shadow Health Minister Mark Bailey:
“What is next on David Crisafulli’s cut list to reach his $6 billion in health savings?
“The LNP has already taken the scalpel to the Townsville University Hospital expansion, health workforce attraction programs and nurse-led clinics hours and there are fears the Cairns Hospital Expansion could be next. next.
“With David Crisafulli staring down the barrel of a $12 billion Olympics infrastructure plan – built on a broken promise – he must be honest about the future of this project.
“David Kempton, Bree James and Terry James must rule out cuts to the scope, the number of beds or services at the hospital.
Quotes attributable to Member for Cairns Michael Healy:
“Labor was delivering a world-class health service to the growing Cairns community and it’s something I will continue to advocate for.
“David Kempton, Bree James and Terry James must guarantee that they will deliver the Cairns Hospital expansion – every bed, every service and every dollar promised to the people of this region.
“Anything less will be a cut to Queensland Health and another broken promise by this LNP government.”
ENDS