Bankstown Hospital

Dr MICHAEL HOLLAND ( Bega ) ( 15:15 :57 ): I move:

That this House:

(1)Congratulates the Government for the record investment in the new Bankstown Hospital.

(2)Acknowledges an additional $700 million in the construction of the planned new Bankstown Hospital as part of the New South Wales budget.

(3)Applauds the Government for the total investment in the south-west Sydney hospital to $2 billion, making it the largest capital works investment in a public hospital in the State's history.

The New South Wales Government continues to invest in hospitals and health infrastructure to ensure that communities across the State have access to the highest quality health care close to home. In the 2025-26 budget, the Government committed an additional $700 million to the new Bankstown Hospital, taking the total project funding to $2 billion. That is the largest single capital works investment in a public hospital in New South Wales history, with an allocation of $23.5 million in 2025-26.

Showing a consistent and recurrent theme, despite promising a new hospital in 2019, the former Government did not progress site selection for the new health facility. Once again, the initial $1.3 billion commitment was insufficient and was further affected by global inflation and high demand for construction resources. The additional record funding ensures that the hospital addresses the needs of south-west Sydney's growing community, with Bankstown's population expected to increase by about 16 per cent over the next 15 years. The Canterbury-Bankstown local government area is projected to reach around 430,000 residents by 2036, and the hospital's development futureproofs health care for the district.

The new hospital will be located in Bankstown's CBD on the current TAFE NSW site, close to the city centre, public transport and the future Sydney Metro. The new health facility will be a purpose-built acute hospital designed for safe, efficient, culturally responsive, patient-centred care. Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital on Eldridge Road will continue to operate through planning and construction of the new hospital, with continuity plans to maintain emergency, maternity and critical services. The final scope of the new hospital will be confirmed through planning and is expected to include emergency; operating theatres; intensive care; services for women and children, including maternity; mental health; other acute and ambulatory services; and onsite parking.

Master planning, the first step in shaping a modern health precinct, was released in June 2025. The master plan identifies a zone for a new multi-level hospital near the city end of the site and expansion areas for future health, education and research, creating an integrated health neighbourhood. The project has now moved to the concept design phase, considering department layouts; clinical adjacencies; safe flows for patients, staff and goods; and overall hospital circulation. Concept design will be released later in 2025. Clinical adjacencies will prioritise rapid access from the emergency department to theatres and diagnostics, and efficient links between maternity, special care nursery and paediatrics. Established public transport, including the new Bankstown metro, is expected to shift many staff away from private vehicles, especially during office hours.

The transport plan will include accessible drop-off zones, secure bike parking, end-of-trip facilities and clear wayfinding to encourage safer, greener travel choices. The scope will be guided by the South Western Sydney Local Health District clinical services plan. In parallel, hundreds of staff are co-designing unit-level briefs to inform detailed design. Staff dedication to getting this right has been exceptional, and we appreciate their commitment to co-design and continuous improvement. Digital readiness will be embedded from day one, including electronic medical records, integrated imaging and pathology, telehealth-enabled consult rooms, real‑time location systems and contemporary medication safety systems. Universal design will improve accessibility through intuitive wayfinding, inclusive amenities, quiet spaces, family-friendly areas and culturally safe environments.

The 2025-26 State budget provided $100 million to TAFE NSW to relocate the TAFE NSW Bankstown campus to enable construction of the hospital—coordinated to minimise disruption. Health Infrastructure is working closely with TAFE NSW to sequence relocation, early and enabling works, and demolition to allow construction while maintaining education continuity. Although a small part of the site will remain in use, TAFE NSW will relocate most training delivery for the next five years to the Western Sydney University tower across the road, giving local staff and students brand-new facilities and bespoke teaching spaces in the heart of the CBD. Health Infrastructure and TAFE NSW are aligning decanting schedules, asset transfers and site handover milestones, including utilities isolation, hazardous materials management and safe demolition staging.

A joint communications approach will keep students, staff and the community informed about dates, temporary arrangements and access changes as the program progresses. Demolition of existing TAFE buildings is expected to begin in early 2026 after relocation, which will be sequenced to maintain safety and minimise impacts on neighbours. The project is underpinned by best-practice consultation and a comprehensive engagement strategy, including targeted engagement with Aboriginal communities and the area's diverse multicultural communities. During master plan consultation, there were more than 700 interactions with staff and community and more than 300 survey responses, supported by meetings, workshops and information sessions. The launch included staff and consumer briefings, a "Have Your Say" webpage—which had over 3,600 views—letterbox drops to 6,000 households and pop-up sessions at the hospital and Bankstown central.

Ongoing consultation will inform design development, construction staging, traffic management and commissioning, ensuring that community and lived experience input shapes key decisions. Consumer insights are being embedded in maternity and birthing spaces, emergency waiting areas, mental health therapeutic environments and family-friendly amenities. The hospital will be a catalyst for a broader health, education and research ecosystem, strengthening partnerships with universities, TAFE and industry to grow the clinical and allied health workforce pipeline. The new $2 billion Bankstown Hospital is the largest capital works investment in a public hospital in the history of New South Wales. It is a once-in-a-generation investment that will transform care for Bankstown and surrounding suburbs, delivering contemporary facilities, improved patient experience and capacity for future growth.

Ms KYLIE WILKINSON ( East Hills ) ( 15:29 :57 ): I support this motion and celebrate the single biggest health infrastructure investment my community has ever seen: the new Bankstown hospital. South-western Sydney is one of the fastest growing parts of our State. It is home to more than a million people, and that population is expected to increase. With that growth comes the need for world‑class services, particularly in health. That is why the Minns Labor Government has made health infrastructure a priority in this year's budget. At the centre of this commitment is a new hospital for Bankstown. The Government is fully committed to delivering the project, with planning already underway.

For too long, people in my community were promised the world by members opposite, and for too long they were left waiting. The Liberals first announced funding for our hospital in 2019, but four years later they had not chosen a viable site, progressed planning or secured enough funding. Instead, right before the election, at the eleventh hour, they announced that they would build the hospital on contaminated land. But that announcement was made with no consultation with the college that they intended to shut down, and with no support from Health Infrastructure or the council. It was a flippant election stunt, not a serious plan.

In contrast, the Minns Labor Government has acted decisively. We are not just talking about a hospital; we are delivering one. The Government has committed an additional $700 million in this year's budget, bringing the total investment for the new Bankstown hospital to $2 billion. That makes this project the largest capital investment in a public hospital in our State's history and a great investment for the people of East Hills. Some further great news is that we are keeping the existing Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital on Eldridge Road as a health facility for our community, which will include day surgery and other vital services, so people in south-western Sydney can get the care they need close to home and without delay.

The new Bankstown hospital will include a larger and more modern emergency department; state‑of‑the‑art operating theatres; intensive care services; expanded surgical and medical services; dedicated services for women and children, including maternity; and greatly improved mental health facilities. Planning has already identified room for future expansions, ensuring that as our population grows, our health services can grow with it. This is in contrast with the years of broken promises and delays by the previous Liberal Government, which failed to progress the project despite years and years of talk.

The Bankstown hospital project will also bring important flow-on benefits. Relocating TAFE from the Chapel Road site is not a loss, but a long overdue opportunity. Three TAFE courses will move to Padstow TAFE to unlock much-needed upgrades after 12 long years of Liberal neglect. Bankstown TAFE will remain in the CBD as part of a new, modern health and education precinct, giving our young people better skills and training opportunities right alongside world‑class health services. Of course, we have heard scare campaigns from members opposite, but the facts are clear.

The new hospital will have a dedicated ambulance road to make sure patients reach emergency care faster. It will deliver over 1,000 new car spaces with room to build more in the future. This hospital is being designed properly, planned properly and delivered promptly. This is what Labor is all about: We deliver better infrastructure, better services and better quality of life for the people of New South Wales. After years of delays and false promises, finally our community has certainty. I thank Premier Chris Minns, the Minister for Health and the Minns Labor Government for backing our community and keeping their word. The new Bankstown hospital is a win for East Hills, for all of south-western Sydney and for every person who deserves access to world‑class health care.

Mr JUSTIN CLANCY ( Albury ) ( 15:33 :51 ): I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I begin by acknowledging the member for East Hills, who made me think that there have been no better advocates for Bankstown hospital and that region than the former member for East Hills and the former member for Bankstown. I know members opposite would be proud of the efforts of the former member for Bankstown and her passion for her community. Likewise, the former member for East Hills was constantly fighting for her community.

That is the first point I make in refuting the claims of the Parliamentary Secretary for Health when he talks about site selection. Members know the truth: A site was selected, and it was the Eldridge Road site. It took 12 months or more for the incoming Government to decide that it was going to change the site, which caused a delay. Delay is a common theme when it comes to Labor governments. As a consequence of the delay, we find that there is an increase to the cost of build. Here we are, debating a motion in which Labor members are patting themselves on the back for having to invest more because of the increased cost of build associated with the delays that they have brought upon themselves. It is extraordinary that they have the chutzpah to celebrate the cost increase due to the delay.

The second point I make is regarding Bankstown TAFE. I recognise that the Minister is in the Chamber and I appreciate his words in the last budget estimates. We have finally got some understanding and acknowledgement about what the impact for the TAFE will be. It had to be drawn out during budget estimates—it did not come out as an announcement—that the TAFE is being relocated to the University of Western Sydney. Another challenge and common theme with Labor governments is a rubbery sense of figures. In budget estimates, the Minister said around $40 million would be spent on the relocation to the Western Sydney University tower, but thanks to supplementary answers, we now know that $28.3 million is proposed for the fit-out, $25 million is allocated for the lease and $30 million will be spent on relocation of teaching operations at Padstow.

That still leaves about $16.7 million of the $100 million unaccounted for. What are those funds being used for? Is it legal consulting, moving staff or community support? That remains unknown. The community has been kept largely in the dark, unaware of what will happen to its TAFE campus, only to find that it is moving into University of Western Sydney for an unknown period. We need clarity from the Labor Government. Will there be fit-out in the future Bankstown campus of the hospital for the TAFE?

The final point I make is to acknowledge the additional investment. I will always welcome capital investment. The former Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary agree that we are bipartisan when it comes to investment on health. It is Treasury that you have to fight. We welcome this additional investment, but as a regional MP—and the Parliamentary Secretary will know this well—I would welcome that further investment to be seen in the Albury campus or for Albury Wodonga Health as well. I ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether he will make commitments for further funding, which he is prepared to give to Western Sydney, to regional New South Wales.