An indicative render of the proposed Northside Hospital. The Canberra Liberals have promised a start construction in their first term. Image: ACT Government.
The Canberra Liberals have promised to start construction of the planned Northside Hospital at Bruce in their first term if they win government on 19 October.
The hospital project, which Labor says would cost at least $1 billion and is due to begin mid-decade, joins the city stadium ($800 million) and convention centre ($760 million) that the Liberals have also slated for a start in their first term.
But health spokesperson Leanne Castley said not proceeding with light rail Stage 2B, which she said Chief Minister Andrew Barr had called Canberra’s biggest ever infrastructure project, would free up the labour and resources necessary to deliver the hospital faster and run three major projects at once.
Ms Castley said peak bodies such as the Master Builders Association had assured the Liberals that they could supply the workers if they had the certainty that these projects were going ahead.
She said not proceeding with light rail would also help a Liberal Government manage the costs.
“We’re not building a $4 billion tram; we don’t have to factor that in,” she said.
A Liberal government would also consider public-private partnerships for the convention centre and stadium.
“Those things absolutely come at a cost, but they will be bringing money into the ACT as well,” she said.
The Canberra Liberals have also recommitted to a royal commission into the ACT health system in their first year of government, which Ms Castley said could cost about $12 million.
She said that without a royal commission, it would be difficult to understand the depth of the problems with the health system.
“For years and years, the health system has been in decline and, some will say, a crisis,” she said.
A royal commission would look at the workplace culture, staffing and resourcing and how to support frontline workers.
Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee and health spokesperson Leanne Castley at Canberra Hospital: “I want our frontline workers to know that the Canberra levels respect them, that we have their back.” Photo: Ian Bushnell.
Ms Castley said the key was the workforce and culture, saying that despite many surveys over many years, there had not been any improvement.
She would introduce an annual culture survey, but “the difference is I want our frontline workers to tell us the truth”.
“They fear retribution. They are boycotting the current surveys.
“If ever I have the honour of being the health minister, I want our frontline workers to know that the Canberra Liberals respect them, that we have their back and that we’re listening, and that’s where these policies have come from.”
A Liberal Government would also boost training and wellbeing support for doctors.
This includes increased education allowances and protected training time for registrars and senior registrars for five hours a week as part of the medical officers’ Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.
The Liberals would also commit $120,000 to DRs4Drs, a confidential mental health support service for doctors and medical students, to support those struggling with fatigue, burnout, bullying and anxiety.
While Ms Castley would not commit to a pay rise for striking doctors, she said a Liberal government would negotiate with them, “not force them into a situation where they have to take industrial action against their own government, their own employer to pay them adequately”.
“They need to be paid what they are worth, and that’s part of the negotiation,” Ms Castley said.
“I know they were very unhappy with the EBA, and so we will commit to having that conversation with them.”
Ms Castley pledged to deal with staff shortages across the system, saying that although Labor had promised 800 new health workers, there was no detail of what that actually meant.
“We’re committed to nurse-to-patient ratios and to making sure that we have enough doctors across the health system,” she said.
“We’re committed to making sure that the hospital can run and that we have adequate staff, surgeons, whatever it takes to make Canberra the best health system that we can.”
The Liberals also committed to providing affordable housing for key workers such as nurses and midwives and building a multi-story car park at the Canberra Hospital, both of which Labor supports.
A Labor spokesperson said not proceeding with light rail Stage 2B would not expedite the hospital project because the infrastructure program was very busy until 2028. Light rail 2B construction was not proposed until after that.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr welcomed the Liberals “about face” on the Northside Hospital project after their previous opposition to it.
Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said a royal commission would be costly, time-consuming and cause unnecessary distress for the health workforce.
“We need to be addressing the challenges that exist now and taking action,” she said.
“Throughout this term of government, we have worked closely with unions, professional bodies, and the workforce to better understand cultural issues and drive change, as informed by the 2018 culture review.
Ms Stephen-Smith said this work has improved the culture across Canberra Health Services, as shown in results from independent culture surveys and medical training surveys.
She said a re-elected Labor Government would continue investing in more support and development opportunities for the health workforce.
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