Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

We have opened more than 1,300 new beds and built new operating theatres; we are upgrading emergency departments and training 6,000 more doctors. We are providing this funding because our hospitals need it, but extra funding must come with reform. When you look at elective surgery lists, the Gillard government recognises that all Australians deserve a fair share, including those in New South Wales, including those in regional areas. That is why we are making unprecedented investments in our regional health facilities.

We are also pleased by the strong interest shown by those opposite, particularly from regional areas, in the need for funding and assistance and in the Health and Hospitals Fund Regional Priority Round. The government received, in that round, 237 compliant applications for funding for a combined total of approximately $5.3 billion. But, in relation to the specific issue of that particular hospital, I will have to take that on notice and seek further information from the Minister for Health and Ageing. I do not have a specific brief that I can turn to in relation to that.

But I do know that, when you look at the areas around Port Macquarie, we have announced funding of $96 million for the Port Macquarie Base Hospital. So this government is working very strongly with regional communities to ensure that we do provide assistance for individuals, for families, for regional areas, for health and hospital assistance— (Time expired)