Michelle Landry (Capricornia, National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Central Queenslanders have once again been duped by the Queensland state Labor government into believing that they are finally getting access to vital health infrastructure. Currently, those who are undergoing cancer treatment or require diagnosis of brain and heart conditions are required to make a seven-hour round trip to Bundaberg or Mackay to undertake crucial PET-CT scans. The state assistant minister for health declared a PET-CT scanner 'not a priority' for the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service catchment area, which encompasses 230,000 people.

Nearly 2,000 signatures and weeks of public outcry finally forced Labor's hand on a PET scanner for Rockhampton. But let's be clear: their announcement feels like an empty promise. It's a classic Labor move—all talk and no action. We were initially hopeful when the government announced a PET scanner for Rockhampton, but here's the catch: it won't be here for three years. A private provider has a scanner ready to go, but the government says no and instead offers an empty promise three years down the road. That's not good enough. We need this machine now, not in 2027.

Over 1,400 Central Queenslanders are diagnosed with cancer each year. Many of them need multiple PET CT scans throughout their treatment. Central Queenslanders deserve better than waiting years for this vital healthcare service. They deserve a government that prioritises their health and delivers real solutions, not just empty announcements.