Record health investment into Queensland health services

The Morrison Government is investing an additional $100 million to support south east Queensland patients with new cancer and mental health services and critical hospital infrastructure.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said this investment would improve the health of Queenslanders.

“Our strong economic management means we can provide record investment in Medicare, public hospitals and medicines, delivering more doctors, more nurses and more services to Queenslanders.”

“We can deliver this record investment in health without raising taxes for hard-working Queenslanders,” Mr Morrison said.

“$100 million will help improve services, reduce wait times and deliver greater access to cancer care and mental health services.”

On top of record support for public hospitals, today’s additional investment includes;

·       $10 million to the Redcliffe Hospital for a new paediatric emergency treatment service. This will provide better care for young patients when they need it most.

·       $33.4 million to build a seven days a week, standalone urgent care service at Logan Hospital, which will help take the pressure off the hospital’s emergency department and specialist outpatient services.

·       $30 million to help redevelop Redland Hospital including redeveloping the existing renal dialysis building and the main hospital’s acute inpatient building.

·       $10 million for an eight chair chemotherapy unit at Caboolture Hospital. The funding will enable local people to access cancer treatments closer to home.

·       $10.5 million for new Safe Spaces as an alternative to hospital emergency departments to benefit people who present at emergency departments in a state of distress, but who do not require emergency department. This will support the Caboolture Hospital, Redcliffe Hospital, The Prince Charles Hospital and the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

·       $5.9 million for mental health support for Brisbane South

·       $500,000 to support the construction at the Norfolk Village State School of a Children’s Health and Wellbeing Hub

·       $400,000 per year over four years to support Canefields Club House to deliver psychological support to people with mental health conditions

·       $250,000 per year over 4 years to support Headspace Meadowbrook deliver increased services and reduce wait times

·       $700,000 per year over 4 years to support Brook Red to continue to deliver adult mental health and psychosocial support services in the regions of Logan, Redlands and Brisbane.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said this additional funding was on top of our Government’s record Queensland hospital funding.

“It will support patients get the treatment they need, when they need it.

In particular it will support patients who are dealing with cancer and mental health and take pressure off hospital emergency departments.”

Under Labor, federal funding for Queensland public hospitals was only $2.6 billion in 2012–13, compared to $6.7 billion in 2024–25 under the Liberal and National Government agreement.

The Queensland Labor Government is now underfunding south east Queensland Hospitals.

In the Metro South Hospital and Health Service which includes both Logan Hospital and Redland Hospital, the Liberal National Government is increasing funding by $642 million or 158.6 per cent since Labor were in office.  At the same time the Queensland Labor Government has cut $39 million from hospitals in the region.

In the Metro North Hospital and Health Service which includes the Caboolture Hospital and Redcliffe Hospital, the Liberal National Government is increasing funding by $769.2 million or 151.8 per cent since Labor were in office. At the same time the Queensland Labor Government only increased their funding by only 7.5 per cent.

The Morrison Government’s National Health Agreement will also deliver an additional $8.4 billion to Queensland Hospitals over 5 years.

Labor cannot be trusted to run a strong economy and they cannot be trusted to fund essential services.

In 2011, when Bill Shorten was Assistant Treasurer, Labor deferred the listing of seven medicines for conditions such as severe asthma, lung disease, endometriosis, saying: “Given the current fiscal environment, the listing of some medicines would be deferred until fiscal circumstances permit” (2011-12 Portfolio Budget Statement).

This $100 million investment is part of the Morrison Government’s additional $402 million additional investment in the Queensland Heath System to address health care needs, filling critical service gaps and providing affordable and accessible health services for more people, where and when they need them. For Queensland, the $402 million includes:

·       Hospital services and infrastructure ($141.3 million)

·       Cancer infrastructure ($10.9 million)

·       More MRI units for patients when and where they need them ($92.5 million)

·       More mental health support ($18.7 million)

·       Drug and alcohol services ($20.2 million)

·       Better access to primary care ($55.1 million)

·       Lifesaving medical research ($70 million)

Only the Morrison Government’s plan for a strong economy ensures record investment in Queensland hospitals and guaranteed funding for essential services.