Martha HAYLETT (Ripon) (14:42): (16)

My constituency question is for the Minister for Health. Would the Minister please provide me with an update on the Andrews Labor government’s massive $100 million redevelopment and expansion of the Maryborough and district hospital?

I knocked on hundreds of doors across Maryborough last year, and every single person was excited about this project.

It will be a game changer for the Maryborough community and will deliver a new urgent care centre, a 32-bed inpatient unit, two operating theatres and recovery spaces and a day medical centre with imaging and pathology services. The redevelopment will also add new birthing suites to make sure more local women can give birth close to home.

When complete, the Maryborough and district hospital will be able to treat an additional 4000 patients every year and will help take pressure off the Bendigo and Ballarat hospitals.

It is just another example of how the Andrews Labor government is putting patients first in our rural and regional communities, and I cannot wait to see it complete.