A demand for cash in exchange for information won't compromise the construction of a 350-space public hospital car park, state Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders says.
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The NSW Ministry of Health estimated it would take 47 hours and cost $1410 to find and release documents related to the state government's promise to build a new $30 million Dubbo Hospital car park.
That estimate was revealed in a letter to NSW Labor's health spokesman Ryan Park, who asked for plans, timelines and status reports to be released along with correspondence about the car park exchanged between Health Infrastructure NSW and Mr Saunders.
Before work to get the information could commence, the ministry requested Mr Park pay a deposit of $705.
After Mr Park accused the government of being secretive and mentioned fears the the new car park would not be built, Mr Saunders said there was "nothing being hidden".
"The Dubbo Hospital car park was included in this year's budget papers as an election commitment slated to commence in this term of government," Mr Saunders said.
"It was a commitment of up to $30 million for an additional 350 car spaces that I made...and one that will be delivered.
"Health Infrastructure is currently undertaking an assessment of the Dubbo Hospital site to identify further car parking options as part of delivering on this commitment.
"Stage four of the Dubbo Hospital redevelopment is still happening, and construction of the Western Cancer Centre will start this year, and while it would be great to have everything done at once, there is a need for works to be staged."
Mr Park said if the government was "serious" about delivering its promise to build a new car park, it "would be open and transparent about its progress".
"The current car park at Dubbo Hospital can no longer cope with the demands of patients and staff, who are frustrated and struggling to find spots close nearby," he said.
According to Mr Saunders, the government's record running the health system was "far superior to what Labor has dished up in the past".
"If you think back to 2008 and 2009, we had a Labor government and an area health service in deep debt," Mr Saunders said.
"Nurses were borrowing bandages from vet clinics, when x-rays or sterilisation fluid was unavailable due to bills not being paid."
