Tuesday, 30 April 2024

Laverton electorate

Sarah CONNOLLY (Laverton) (14:55): (597) My question is for the Minister for Health. Last month I joined the Premier, the Minister for Health and the member for Footscray at the brand new Footscray Hospital site to see the construction progress and the footbridge connecting VU to the hospital. The new Footscray Hospital is opening next year thanks to a $1.5 billion investment by the Allan Labor government. In fact this is the single biggest piece of health infrastructure ever invested not just in Melbourne’s west but in Victoria. We are delivering world-class facilities to Melbourne’s west, benefiting local councils I represent, including Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong and Wyndham. The new hospital will have more than 500 beds and help our medical staff care for an additional 15,000 patients and 20,000 extra people through the emergency department annually. We need this hospital in Melbourne’s west, and I am so pleased that it will be open next year. My question to the minister is this: how will this record investment into the new Footscray Hospital benefit those in my electorate?