Safe Seats Under Fire: Regional Victorians Say Hospital Funding Is Being Driven by Politics, Not Need

As Victoria edges closer to its November state election, frustration is growing across regional communities who believe their hospitals are being overlooked simply because they sit in electorates considered politically “safe.” Advocates say outdated and deteriorating facilities are being left behind, not due to lack of need, but because they offer little electoral reward.

The debate has sharpened around Hamilton Base Hospital, a major health service more than three hours west of Melbourne. In 2022, then–Western District Health Service chief executive Rohan Fitzgerald led a public push for a $32 million upgrade, arguing the hospital’s ageing infrastructure was failing both staff and patients. Despite strong community backing, the proposal stalled.

Fitzgerald, who no longer works at the hospital, says the situation remains dire. “It’s heartbreaking for the staff and for the community,” he said, reflecting on years of unmet promises.

He believes the lack of progress is tied to Hamilton’s location within Lowan, a seat held securely by the Nationals for more than two decades. “Lowan is Nationals territory that’s just the reality,” he said. “But surely we can rise above political gamesmanship when it comes to essential services.”

The Coalition pledged $17 million for the upgrade during the last state election campaign, but the Labor government did not match the commitment. The stalemate has fuelled calls for an independent authority to oversee hospital infrastructure funding, ensuring decisions are based on need rather than political advantage.

With the election approaching, regional Victorians are demanding answers and wondering whether their postcode, rather than their health needs, is determining the future of their hospitals.