Mr PEARCE (9:49 AM) —I rise this morning to make the House aware of a very important and critical issue in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne, and in particular in my electorate of Aston. During the Aston by-election, there were several key issues identified. One of the major issues was the proposed Knox Public Hospital.

The previous state government, the Kennett Liberal government, secured a wonderful piece of land in Aston and proposed to build a wonderful tertiary, 300-bed hospital. Subsequently, since the Victorian Labor government has assumed office, the proposed hospital has been shelved. This is a major concern for the people of the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

The Knox Public Hospital was proposed to be a world-class facility. It was going to have 300 additional beds to service the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne. This would significantly reduce hospital waiting lists and provide access to specialist services. The hospital had been proposed to have 24-hour emergency services; it was going to have outpatient services, a large teaching and training facility, and specialist services like heart and respiratory services.

Unfortunately, the Bracks Labor government has decided not to pursue the building of the hospital, despite the fact that the land remains reserved for this site. They are now looking for alternative uses for the land. As the candidate for the Aston by-election and now the member for Aston, I have been approached by hundreds and hundreds of local residents asking me to do everything I can to pursue the Victorian state government and request that they seriously reconsider this decision. The hospital is very important. The Bracks Labor government, when in opposition, did promise to build the hospital. Now we find ourselves in a position where they have decided to shelve it.

I mentioned the Knox Public Hospital in my first speech in the House. In that speech I asked the Victorian state government to reconsider and review this decision. I call again on the state government to review the decision and to start the building of the Knox Public Hospital as soon as possible.

As a parent with a young family, I know how important it is to have access to good local hospitals. I believe that all of the people in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne, and in particular the residents of Aston, deserve the right to have access to good local health services. I request that the Victorian government reconsiders this decision to shelve the hospital, and begins construction as soon as possible.