THE absence of any funding in this year’s State Budget has raised alarm bells that the building of a new Barossa hospital will be stalled for the foreseeable future, according to Member for Light Tony Piccolo.

The State Government budget, handed down last week in State Parliament, re-announced a $15 million upgrade of the Gawler Health Service Emergency Department but failed to allocate any funds to a new Barossa hospital.

Member for Light and Candidate for Schubert Tony Piccolo said the lack of any funding in the 2020/21 budgets and three following budgets means that a decision to commence any detailed planning for the new hospital will not occur until 2024 at the earliest, if at all.

“Despite the flurry of media announcements recently by the Marshall Liberal Government, it is clear they are treating the new hospital as a political rather than a health exercise,” he said.

“The lack of funding in this budget, and up to and including the 2023/24 budget forecasts, puts into doubt the true commitment of any announcement by the State Liberal Government.”

As published in The Bunyip previously, the State Government allocated funding towards the completion of a business case for a Barossa Hospital after it was identified as a target in the 2018/19 budget.

Engagement with stakeholders and the community took place in October and November last year, as part of a first phase.

It is understood the business case has been completed for some five months, but is yet to be made public.

Earlier this month, SA health minister Stephen Wade confirmed he is progressing investigations into a potential new health facility for the Barossa, including the consideration of a potential site, with a goal to present a funding bid for next year’s budget.

Mr Piccolo said that it appears the government wants to announce a new hospital as some sort of “fait accompli”, preventing any genuine community consultation or participation.

“If the Marshall Liberal Government were serious about building a new hospital, they would release the business case immediately, encourage some community consultation and make some provision in the budget for some detailed planning, but none of this has occurred,” he said.

“It is no wonder that people in the Barossa once again feel betrayed.

“The Marshall Liberal Government wants to give the impression that they will honour the promise they made prior to the last state election.

“They have been embarrassed into progressing the matter as a result of the proposed changes to the electoral boundaries.”