Cloncurry Shire Council Acting Mayor Jane McMillan described the hospital’s bathrooms as “third world” when she asked Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt last week for more funding. 

Mr Katter said Councillor McMillan’s point had “significant merit” and would discuss hospital funding with State Health Minister Cameron Dick in the next parliamentary sitting. 

 “There needs to be a significant effort to ensure regional areas receive the same level of healthcare as those within urban centres, and I do not believe this is currently the case,” Mr Katter said. 

Cr McMillan told the Treasurer when he visited Mount Isa upgrades were necessary because it was the nearest hospital for 10 mines in the shire. 

“We have got 300 blokes living on those mine sites,” she said. 

Mr Katter noted Fly-In, Fly-Out companies do not contribute alongside local residents, but did use Cloncurry’s resources.  

“In saying that, some mines in the area have a good track record for community contribution,” the MP said. 

In response to Cr McMillan’s published concern, a Health Minister spokesperson said Cloncurry Hospital had not been forgotten.

“[The] $7.4 million project completed in late 2013, included the new 10-bed aged care annexe and additional works, including a new pharmacy department and X-Ray. 

“The midwife based at Cloncurry has office facilities at the Cloncurry Hospital and can access vehicles based at the Cloncurry community health department.” 

The spokesperson said funding for operations at major regional hospitals will be larger than those at small local ones. 

“While Cloncurry is a small rural hospital serving the local community, Mount Isa is a major regional hospital serving the whole of North-West Queensland, offering a range of more advanced and specialised services that cannot be offered in a smaller hospital at Cloncurry,” the spokesperson said.