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, according to the Member for Indi, Helen Haines.

The surprising lack of advocacy was revealed by Dr Haines in a speech in Parliament on Monday.

Dr Haines recently made the FoI request to Mr 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 case is clear, we need a new hospital on the border,” Dr Haines said.

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

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This article appeared in the Corryong Courier, 15 August 2024.