CAMPAIGNERS for major south-west causes are optimistic support from their local MP will deliver positive outcomes now that Denis Napthine is Victorian Premier.
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Peter’s Project and jumps racing supporters were yesterday celebrating Dr Napthine’s rise to the premiership, saying his elevation raised hopes of success.
While Dr Napthine helped give jumps racing life after its future looked bleak, campaigners for a cancer care centre hope Dr Napthine, a key ally in their three-year battle, will be able to exercise his new-found power to secure $10 million from the state government.
Peter’s Project director Vicki Jellie welcomed Dr Napthine’s ascension.
“We’re very lucky to now have the Premier in Warrnambool,” Ms Jellie said.
So far a $5 million allocation from the state government is still “sitting on paper” and awaiting a $20 million split between the state and the Commonwealth coffers.
“We need action now to get a commitment in the May budget to get some bricks and mortar up,” Ms Jellie said.
“We have always been able to contact Denis easily.”
But Ms Jellie also expressed concern that the leadership change could unsettle the Coalition’s position in the polls toward next year’s state election.
The state Labor opposition is yet to make a commitment to bring the centre to Warrnambool.
Ms Jellie said she was waiting to hear if Dr Napthine would reshuffle his cabinet, potentially removing David Davis from the health portfolio.
South West Healthcare (SWH) CEO John Krygger also voiced hope the Napthine government would deliver on the centre before a polling date next year.
“It was Denis who orchestrated the pre-election commitment to bring the radiotherapy service to south-west Victoria,” Mr Krygger said.
But he rejected suggestions that the local Premier would put the SWH to the front of the queue.
“… the finances of the state haven’t changed because there’s been a change of premier,” he said.
Mr Krygger said a business case for the cancer centre was now finished and in the hands of Treasury. “It’s at a very advanced stage,” he said.
SWH is also searching for more than $100 million for the stage two hospital redevelopment that will see large parts of the hospital, including the emergency department, expanded to meet increasing numbers.
“The Premier will have significant weight in those discussions,” Mr Krygger said.
He said the emergency department was now compromised but said the proposal would set the hospital up for the next 50 years.
“They (staff) are very crammed and it affects the patient flow,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Napthine’s accession to the top job was lauded by the Warrnambool Racing Club, which counts him as a principle supporter of jumps racing.
Club CEO John Green credited the Racing Minister with shoring up the place of jumps racing at the May carnival, which annually pumps $20 million into the economy.
“He couldn’t have done more for us in the past two- and-a-half years as Racing Minister,” Mr Green said.
“He’s made sure that jumps racing is on the rebound.”
