Women, mothers, and families on the South Coast have been abandoned after the Minns Labor Government admitted it had broken its election promise to restore birthing services at Milton Ulladulla Hospital.
The criticism follows the Minister for Health’s recent comments, where he conceded that returning birthing services at the Hospital was “not really possible to do it here at the moment.”
The admission stands in direct contrast to repeated promises made by Labor and the local Labor Member, Liza Butler, before the last election.
Ms Butler repeatedly pledged – on social media, through local media outlets, in Parliament, and even through campaign signage distributed prior to the election – to restore birthing services to Milton Ulladulla Hospital.
NSW Nationals Shadow Minister for Health and Regional Health, Sarah Mitchell, said the Minns Labor Government had broken one of the most significant promises ever made to South Coast families.
“This is one of the most extraordinary political backflips the South Coast has seen,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Women and families in the region were repeatedly promised that birthing services would return to Milton Ulladulla Hospital if Labor was elected. It wasn’t a passing comment or an aspiration – it was a direct commitment made repeatedly.
“Now, after securing votes on the back of those promises, Chris Minns and Ryan Park are openly admitting it isn’t possible.”
“Families deserve honesty. Instead, they have received excuses.”
Shadow Minister for Women, Felicity Wilson, said the Labor Government had failed women who require local access to maternity care.
“Women living on the South Coast should not be treated as an afterthought by this government,” Ms Wilson said.
“Expectant mothers and young families need confidence that they can access safe, local healthcare services close to home.”
“This is a shameful betrayal of women, mothers and families across the South Coast.”
“For many local women, this promise represented access, certainty and support during one of the most important times in their lives. Instead, they have been left with disappointment and unanswered questions.”
The NSW Nationals also criticised Labor for failing to deliver another key election commitment – a CT scanner for Milton Ulladulla Hospital.
Ms Mitchell said the pattern of broken promises was becoming impossible to ignore.
“We were promised birthing services. We were promised a CT scanner.
Communities were led to believe these commitments would be delivered under a Labor Government.”
“Now we are hearing arguments about needing an entirely new hospital, but without any funding commitment attached to it.”
“Simply saying we need a new hospital is becoming a distraction from a Government that cannot even deliver the commitments it has already made.”
“The most basic responsibility of any government is to keep its promises, and on Milton Ulladulla Hospital this government has failed.”
