Liberals pledge hospital upgrades for Geelong

THE VICTORIAN Coalition are pledging more healthcare upgrades for Geelong if they win the November 26 election, with more car parking at the existing hospital and an investigation into creating a second hospital.

Opposition Leader Matt Guy, Shadow Minister for Health Georgie Crozier and local Liberal candidates visited University Hospital Geelong last week to make the election commitments, including that their party would also complete the $500 million Women and Children’s Hospital to be built at the site.

Early demolition works for the project have already begun.

The Liberals and Nationals say they will invest $60 million to build a new 800-space carpark for staff and patients at University Hospital Geelong, and will run a feasibility study in relation to identifying a site for a future second hospital for Geelong in response to population growth.

The works will be funded by cancelling Labor’s planned Surburban Rail Loop project, the first stage of which is estimated to cost more than $36 billion.

Mr Guy said the commitment was an important part of the Liberals and Nationals’ plan to fix the health crisis.

“As Premier, my first priority will be to fix the health crisis and ensure all Victorians can get the healthcare they deserve.

“We will do this by reprioritising the $35 billion Cheltenham to Box Hill rail line, and instead investing in vital health care projects such as this suite of solutions for Geelong.

“The only way to fix the health crisis without raising taxes is to vote Liberal or Nationals on November 26.”

Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas said her government had grown Barwon Health’s workforce by almost 22 per cent.

“You can’t trust Matthew Guy’s Liberals with our health system. They committed to building a public hospital in Geelong but broke their promise, instead sending public patients to private hospitals after striking an agreement to line the pockets of private providers.

“If Matthew Guy paid any attention to the health system in Geelong, he would know that work has already started on our new half-a-billion dollar Barwon Women’s and Children’s Hospital.”