Bill Tilley has called on the Victorian government to match NSW’s funding investment in Albury hospital, defending himself over the “political football” aimed at him during the state election campaign.
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In the end, there was a 7.2 per cent swing away from the Liberal MP.
Speaking on his first day in Parliament since being re-elected, Mr Tilley asked Health Minister Jenny Mikakos to provide a detailled briefing on money invested in Albury Wodonga Health over the past four years.
“A group of medicos saw fit to raise the issue as a political football,” he said.
“They pointed to billion-dollar investments in Ballarat and Bendigo as examples of why the Benambra electorate should be marginal.
“Clearly they had not done their homework and taken into consideration that Bendigo and Ballarat are both safe Labor seats.”
He accused Labor of giving more money to other hospitals, despite more people using the Border’s emergency departments.
“I am an unabashed fan of AWH and combining the two state hospitals and services has led to massive gains for our community, attracted doctors and improved outcomes,” Mr Tilley said.
“When this issue was politicised ahead of 24 November last year I was left carrying the can for the government’s lack of vision and, more importantly, investment.”
Mr Tilley told Parliament that NSW “is hoping it might be matched by the Victorian Labor government”.
Meanwhile, Euroa MP Steph Ryan renewed her pressure on the government over the North East rail line, after buses have been replacing trains due to works on the metropolitan network.
“While no-one begrudges those disruptions if the network is being improved, it is hard to stomach it when all of the money is being poured into Melbourne and regional passengers are seeing none of the benefits,” she said.
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