Page: 21869
Mr DAVID BARR: My question is directed to the Premier. What is the latest information regarding the configuration of hospital services on the northern beaches following today's announcement of Frenchs Forest as the chosen site for the new hospital?
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for Wakehurst is on three calls to order. Whilst I am reluctant to eject him from the Chamber I will have no hesitation in doing so if he continues to interject.
Mr MORRIS IEMMA: I was waiting for the honourable member for Wakehurst to ask this question. It is good news. I thank the honourable member for Manly for his question and for his ongoing efforts to secure a massive increase in health investment on the northern beaches. As he said, today the Government announced the two-hospital policy.
Mr Brad Hazzard: The Liberal's two-hospital policy.
Mr MORRIS IEMMA: No, it is the policy as enunciated by the Government and as advocated by the honourable member for Manly for a long time, joined by the honourable member for Pittwater and, at times, the honourable member for Wakehurst.
Ms Carmel Tebbutt: At least he is almost consistent.
Mr MORRIS IEMMA: Yes. At one stage the Opposition policy involved three options, including a new hospital at Mona Vale. The Opposition then ruled out Mona Vale. Then there was another policy for the by-election. Four different Liberal members advocated three different positions. Today there are only two Liberal members left on the northern beaches, and they have been joined by two Independents. I can advise the House that there will be a new high-level acute hospital at Frenchs Forest—
Mr Brad Hazzard: Hear! Hear!
Mr MORRIS IEMMA: I am glad to hear that. Mona Vale Hospital will be retained. The Minister for Health confirmed earlier today that the new northern beaches hospital will be located at Frenchs Forest. It will provide services such as critical care, emergency and intensive care, maternity, paediatric and a range of other medical and surgical services. It will also provide enhanced diagnostic facilities for the benefit of all patients on the northern beaches. The Minister for Health confirmed that Mona Vale Hospital will remain on its existing site and will provide a range of complementary services to further enhance care for residents of the northern beaches.
This configuration of hospital services is a win for local communities at both ends of the peninsula, all of whom have taken a strong interest in the location of the hospital and the configuration of its services. I congratulate the honourable member for Manly, in particular, on acting consistently in the best interests of his constituents, his clinicians and his health service providers by engaging with clinicians and listening to their proposals in the face of a concerted attack—which at times turned personal—upon him. The honourable member for Manly has stuck to his position of securing a massive increase in health services and health infrastructure for his constituents by advocating a new hospital site. He consistently recognised the many disadvantages with the location of Manly Hospital—
Mrs Jillian Skinner: There was a rundown in services.
Mr MORRIS IEMMA: Nobody denies that Manly Hospital needs to be rebuilt. This project will provide in excess of $200 million to build a new high-level hospital that will service the needs of all residents of the northern beaches, from both ends of the peninsula. The Government announced today a massive commitment to increase health services for the people of the northern beaches. There will be a new hospital and Mona Vale Hospital will be retained. I have outlined the configuration of health services. Mona Vale will play a complementary role in providing health services on the northern beaches.
That proves just how wrong the Leader of the Opposition was during the by-election campaign. It is fortunate that people listened to him for a couple of weeks, had a good, long, hard look and then said, "No, thank you." The commitment of the honourable member for Pittwater to retaining Mona Vale Hospital was unwavering both during the campaign and after his election. As a consequence Mona Vale will be retained and its services will be sustained to meet his constituents' range of health needs. It took the two members, working with their communities, clinicians and the Government—and at times with the honourable member for Wakehurst—to achieve this win, win for the residents of the northern peninsula with new, high-level hospitals at each end, and the retention of Mona Vale.