Documents revealed under Freedom of Information show the Victorian and NSW Health Ministers have not written to Federal Health Minister Mark Butler about the proposed redevelopment of Albury Base Hospital.

The surprising lack of advocacy was revealed by Dr Helen Haines, Independent Federal Member for Indi, in a speech in Parliament on Monday.

Dr Haines recently made the FOI request to Health Minister Mark Butler’s office asking for documents relating to the redevelopment of Albury Base Hospital and/or infrastructure at Albury Wodonga Health, including correspondence and briefing notes.

Speaking in Parliament, Dr Haines said the states were lacking in their efforts to get a better deal for people on the border.

“In making this request, I wasn’t hoping for a gotcha moment for the Minister, but to understand what representations the NSW and Victorian Governments had been making on the only cross-border health service in the nation,” Dr Haines said.

“What these documents show is a lack of effort by the Victorian and NSW Governments to get a better deal for people on the border.”

The FOI response included release of five documents, with no letters identified from Victorian Health Minister Mary Anne Thomas or NSW Health Minister Ryan Park.

“The case is clear – we need a new hospital on the border.

“Whether it’s on a green or brownfield site, we know the funding promised so far will not build a state of the art, single-site hospital that meets our community’s needs for years to come.

“So it would make sense to me if the states were asking for the federal government to invest in this project – I certainly am!”

Dr Haines said there are many examples of federal governments investing in building new hospitals.

“When I speak to this government, I am often told that hospitals are a state government responsibility, and the states would need to make the ask. I am dumbfounded that it appears there isn’t any correspondence on this topic at all from the state ministers.

“The people of Albury Wodonga and the whole catchment for Albury Wodonga Health deserve better.”

The FOI response revealed two letters to the Health Minister from the Border Medical Association, and letters from a member of the public, Albury City Council and Dr Haines herself.

Dr Haines has long campaigned for a single-site hospital on the border and says more funding must be committed for the project to succeed.

“I recently brought representatives from Wodonga City Council, Albury City Council, Indigo Shire and Federation Shire to Canberra to meet with Assistant Minister for Regional and Rural Health Emma McBride, and I brought Assistant Minister for Health Ged Kearney to the Regional Health Summit in Wodonga earlier this year.

“As a local Independent representative, I am doing all I can at a federal level, there are other representatives at state level working hard, and community members and health leaders working constructively for our community’s health. We are doing the work, now we need the two state governments to absolutely pick up their efforts and ambition on Albury Wodonga Health.”

The documents can be accessed here.

Dr Haines’ speech can be accessed here.

ENDS