Mr THOMAS GEORGE (Lismore) [11.51 a.m.]: I am very disappointed that Tuesday's budget did not allocate funding for the stage three development of Lismore Base Hospital. I was also disappointed that Murwillumbah Hospital did not attract further funding not only for its current services but also for an extension of services—about which I will comment next week. During my 10 years as the local member I have worked with former health Ministers such as the Hon. Craig Knowles, whose then senior adviser is now our Premier. I remember when former Parliamentary Secretary Cherie Burton and I travelled to Lismore to address a community meeting about future plans for Lismore's health services, and Lismore Base Hospital in particular. The former Minister for Health, Morris Iemma—a former Premier—also visited Lismore, together with the Hon. Craig Knowles and Cherie Burton, to discuss the need to upgrade Lismore hospital.

When the Attorney General, the Hon. John Hatzistergos, was Minister for Health, he and I attended a briefing by Mr Chris Crawford, Chief Executive Officer, Northern Rivers Area Health Service—which is now known as the North Coast Area Health Service—about the development of stage three of the hospital. We were shown the magnificent plans, and the need for the new facilities was subsequently emphasised to the next Minister for Health, the Hon. Reba Meagher, and to the current Minister for Health. The stage one development of Lismore hospital—the provision of the Mental Health Unit, which includes beds for children and adolescents—was greatly appreciated by the community. The Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer), Ms Jodi McKay, and I recently visited Lismore hospital, where I had the pleasure of turning the sod for the integrated cancer unit. The work is well and truly underway and is expected to be completed next year.

The community always believed that the stage three development would proceed next. However, it is not in the current budget. The additional funds may be allocated under the "Various" category, but Mr Crawford recently gave the impression on radio that no extra money had been allocated to the stage three development. The buildings at Lismore Base Hospital are a disgrace, and one can see that stage three is needed desperately. Recently a lady whose husband was a patient at the hospital approached me. Hospital staff were busy so she was giving her husband extra support. She told me that she had to walk up the stairs because the hospital's lifts were not working. Lismore Base Hospital is the hospital for the Northern Rivers area that we are forcing more patients from outlying areas to attend. However, the hospital does not have the facilities to cope with the extra workload, which is a major concern. I thank hospital staff who do a magnificent job under extremely difficult conditions. I will continue to pursue the stage three development of Lismore Base Hospital.