PM Transcripts

PRIME MINISTER 3 DECEMBER 1974
MT GRAVATT HOSPITAL
The Prime Minister said in Canberra tonight
that consideration was being given to the possibility
of moving the proposed Mt Gravatt Hospital to a site
at Cooper's Plains.
Mr Whitlam said that the Joint Hospitals
Works Council for Queensland had discussed this matter
at its last meeting on 19 November.
This followed the Queensland Premier's rejection
of a proposal that the Australian Government take over
responsibility for the Mt Gravatt Hospital project to speed
up its construction. . Mr Whitlam said that the Under Secretary of
the Queensland Department of Health had agreed to inspect
the Cooper's Plains site with a view to making a
recommendation to the Queensland Minister for Health
on the suitability and feasibility of that site for the
proposed hospital. Mr Whitlam said consideration was also being
given to a Queensland proposal to rebuild the Mater
Hospital on its present site in South Brisbane. He said
that discussions were currently taking place between
the Queensland Health Department, the Board of the Mater
Hospital and the Hospitals and Health Services Commission.
They would assess the possibility of splitting available
funds to finance some limited rebuilding on the Site at
South Brisbane as well as the construction of a new
150-200 bed hospital at Inala.
CANBERRA. A. C. T.