Growing jobs and building a stronger health system

The Palaszczuk Government’s Building Better Hospitals program is delivering more services for Queenslanders and more jobs across the state as several big health projects reach important milestones.

Minister for Health Steven Miles said several projects currently underway would deliver jobs during capital works, and in the growing health sector.

“The new Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service at Herston, under construction now, will be a world-class facility, right on our doorstep” he said.

“This Government is delivering a massive capacity expansion, which will provide 184 new beds to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

“We’re generating jobs and growth as we employ 333 people each year while this first-rate facility is under construction.”

Mr Miles said the Palaszczuk Government was investing in growth corridors to the north and south of Brisbane, creating jobs in the Logan and Moreton Bay regions.

“We will deliver 612 jobs each year, plus 328 beds in the system, thanks to our Logan and Caboolture redevelopments,” he said.

“Our rapid expansion of Logan Hospital will be a jobs boom for the region, employing many more staff to deliver essential health services.

“Meanwhile, 15 new jobs are being supported by the new Caboolture Hospital Emergency Department which is currently under construction.”

Mr Miles said progress was going well on the new Adolescent Extended Treatment Centre at the Prince Charles Hospital.

“This new centre will save young lives and save families from the misery of losing a loved one to suicide,” he said.

“And the $100 million we are investing to replace the Barrett adolescent Centre, which was heartlessly closed by the LNP, will deliver an estimated 71 jobs each year.”

Mr Miles said there were dozens of other projects which would deliver jobs in regional and metro Queensland.

“We announced last week Palm Island will see a new Palm Island Primary Health Care Centre, supporting dozens of jobs,” he said.

“In Roma we’ve created almost construction jobs 100 jobs to develop their Hospital, because we know that jobs and health services are critical to the success of regional Queensland.

“Kingaroy and Hervey Bay redevelopments are multi-million-dollar investments in the health of regional communities in the Wide Bay-Burnett region.

“And in the most remote part of this state, where many people live closer to PNG than they do to Cairns, the Torres Strait’s Primary Health Care Centre Redevelopment Project is creating 25 jobs.”

Mr Miles said health infrastructure investment was critical to the economic and physical health of Queensland.

“When the Palaszczuk Government builds new health facilities, we help doctors and nurses and health workers to save lives,” he said.

“But we also create jobs and opportunity.

“Which helps Queenslanders to provide for their families, and supports communities right across this great state.”

ENDS

Media contact: Katharine Wright - 0428 957 903