One Nation’s Nepean candidate Darren Hercus has lashed both the Liberals and Labor over the state of Rosebud Hospital, accusing the major parties of failing to deliver a credible rebuild pathway for the ageing facility.
In a media release, Mr Hercus singled out Jess Wilson and the Liberal Party, arguing voters had little reason to trust another round of campaign-period promises on the peninsula.
Mr Hercus said:
It’s all well and good for Jess Wilson and the Liberal Party to suddenly appear on the Peninsula with their sound bites and matching puffer jackets, but frankly, our community doesn’t trust them either.
At the same time, he blamed Labor for allowing Rosebud Hospital to remain stuck with ageing infrastructure, patch-up works and no full rebuild in sight.
PPP Put Forward As Only Defined Pathway
Mr Hercus backed a public-private partnership as the model he says could finally deliver a new hospital for Rosebud, framing it as the only proposal so far tied to a pathway grounded in financial and delivery reality.
According to the release, the PPP model could save taxpayers up to $340 million, although that figure has not been independently verified by STPL News.
Mr Hercus said Rosebud Hospital had gone too long without the level of investment the community should expect.
The Rosebud Hospital has been starved of desperately needed funding and resources for too long, and our community deserves so much better.
Labor Accused Of Letting Hospital Fall Behind
Mr Hercus reserved some of his strongest criticism for the Allan government, saying hospital staff were being let down by the condition of the site itself.
Mr Hercus said:
This is a much loved hospital. The staff are first class, but they are being let down by a failed Labor government that inexplicably believes that a 65-year-old facility that has had no adequate upgrades in over three decades is good enough.
He also said the community was tired of constant ad hoc, band-aid repairs and repeated political promises.
Mr Hercus said:
Everyone is tired of having sand kicked in their faces.
Pressure Back On The Major Parties
The sharper political point in the announcement is not just the criticism, but the attempt to put forward a specific model while the major parties continue to face questions over what their own rebuild pathway would be.
Mr Hercus said Rosebud should be brought closer to Frankston Hospital in terms of resources, facilities and funding, and argued a PPP may be the only proposal currently tied to a practical delivery method.
Mr Hercus said:
My firm view is that the resources, funding, and facilities available at the Frankston Hospital should be matched here at Rosebud, and if a PPP is the vehicle to do that, then let’s get it done.
The announcement puts pressure on both major parties to move beyond criticism and explain what they would actually do to rebuild Rosebud Hospital, how they would fund it, and when it would happen.
Mr Hercus said any partnership model would need to deliver a new hospital and keep patient care front and centre.
I will continue to engage in these discussions and I am confident that One Nation can ensure our community has the Rosebud Hospital that we all deserve.
That’s what this community expects, and that’s what One Nation will help to achieve.
