In today’s hearing of the Public Accounts and Estimate Committee (PAEC) Inquiry into the 2019-20 Financial and Performance Outcomes, a key Department of Health official – the Deputy Secretary of Infrastructure – was unable to categorically confirm if flammable cladding had been completely removed from the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
The same official was also unable to rule out the existence of flammable cladding on any other major hospitals, despite the cladding being identified as highly flammable in 2019.
It is of great concern that two years on, key health infrastructure in Victoria, caring for our most vulnerable Victorians, may still pose a risk to their safety and wellbeing.
Victorians must be provided with reassurance from the Andrews Labor Government that all flammable cladding will be removed as a priority from all health services.
As stated by Shadow Minister for Health, Georgie Crozier:
“Two years after being identified, it is unacceptable that flammable cladding has not been removed from all health services in Victoria.
“The Andrews Labor Government needs to ensure all flammable cladding is removed from our health services, so that patients and staff know there is no risk to them.”
