Jason Wood (La Trobe, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for International Development and Pacific Island Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

At a time of emergency, when you go to the hospital you want to make sure you're seen quickly, especially if it's your child. Back in 2019 my own daughter, Jasmine, had an anaphylactic reaction, and they took her to Casey Hospital. I was amazed by how many people were waiting in the emergency department.

The great news back in 2019 was that funding was announced under the former health minister Greg Hunt for an emergency department specifically for children. The state Labor government agreed to this, and yet we've had delays since 2020. It was delayed in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and, guess what, again in 2025. When it comes to a children's emergency department at Casey Hospital, the whole project is still delayed. Parents are contacting me all the time saying, 'When is work going to start?'

When I visit the hospital, the nurses and the doctors are under so much pressure and stress. They want this emergency department for children to be up and running. It is an absolute crying shame and disgraceful that the Labor government of Victoria hasn't got Casey Hospital emergency department for children up and running. It is in one of the fastest-growing areas in Australia. It needs this emergency department for children, it needed it six years ago, it needs work— (Time expired)

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