Question on Notice 1543/2025: Queensland Hospital Rescue Plan

Topic

Queensland Hospital Rescue Plan

Question

QUESTION With reference to the $18.536b allocated over five years to Queensland Health in the Budget for Queensland Hospital Rescue Plan— Will the Minister advise (a) how much of that allocation was spent on the New Bundaberg Hospital in 2025-26 to date and (b) how much has been allocated to be spent over the Forward Estimates (reported separately by financial year)? ANSWER The Crisafulli Government’s Hospital Rescue Plan is an investment in the future of our health system, delivering more than 2,600 new beds right across metro, regional and rural Queensland. The Plan delivers a record $18.5 billion investment – the biggest investment in health infrastructure in Queensland’s history. The Hospital Rescue Plan addresses the failures and oversights of the former government’s Capacity Expansion Program, where not one project was able to be delivered in its announced timeframe or budget. The former government’s plan for the Bundaberg Hospital had more than a $1 billion cost blowout and was delayed at least 18 months. The plan required the old hospital to remain operational, which was not supported by clinicians and would have cost the Hospital and Health Service up to $200 million per year in additional operating costs. The Crisafulli Government’s plan for the new Bundaberg Hospital will deliver all health services at one site, more than 200 bed and bed alternatives to be delivered in stage 1, which is expected to be completed in 2031. As reported in the 2025-26 Budget, $911 million was allocated in 2025-26 for major hospital projects under the Hospital Rescue Plan, including the new Bundaberg, new Coomera and new Toowoomba Hospitals, the new Queensland Cancer Plan and expansions at Townsville, Redcliffe, Cairns (surgical centre), Mackay and The Prince Charles Hospital. A program level approach was taken as these projects are still in the planning phase in response to recommendations in the Capacity Expansion Program Independent Review Report (CEPIRR). As at 30 November 2025, expenditure across this budget line item in 25-26 is $198 million. Annual cashflows for these projects are currently under review in response to recommendations in the CEPIRR and therefore cannot be provided at this time.

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