PRU Goward says Goulburn “has survived the toughest budget I think we’re going to see”.

She said despite a $4.7 billion investment in State hospitals and health capital works, a Goulburn Base Hospital upgrade is not on the cards this year.

“We’ve missed out this year, but I’m determined to make that list,” the Member for Goulburn said yesterday.

“But the condition of hospitals across the state is appalling, and we’re spending $4.7 billion over the next four couple of years on hospitals and health capital works, and I’m hopeful that we can get some of that money.

“There are hospitals that are more neglected than ours, but - as I keep telling (Health Minister) Mrs (Jillian) Skinner - there’s not many, and we really need to be on that list for an upgrade.

“We have got money for improving the emergency department and we’re hopefully going to get some money for a couple of smallish projects, but I’d like to go a bit further than that.”

However she said the budget provided for new nurses, teachers, and police officers, with some of these positions to be created in Goulburn.

“I think the best thing about the budget for Goulburn is that we will get our share of the additional 900 more teachers across the State, 2500 more nurses, 550 police officers and so on. So we’ll get our decent share of those.”

Story continued in Wednesday’s Goulburn Post.