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NSW minister for health Jillian Skinner has backed away from the possibility of a potential windfall from the privatisation of the NSW electricity network resulting in sufficient funds being reserved for stages two, three and four of the Manning Hospital redevelopment.
The NSW government recently announced that it would spend $1.4 billion to rebuild hospitals across the State using part of the $20 billion windfall generated by the privatisation of the electricity network.
NSW Premier Mike Baird promoted the sale as a "once in a generation" opportunity to improve infrastructure in NSW and with the massive injection of additional funding - and the recent delivery of the NSW State Budget - the Manning River Times posed the following question to minister Skinner.
"Will the State government commit to holding in reserve sufficient funds to ensure stages two, three and four of the Manning Hospital redevelopment can be completed within this term of government?"
The catalyst for the question to the minister was the pre-election commitment of member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead and minister Skinner for $20 million for stage one redevelopment of Manning Hospital.
"We made our commitment before the election based on forward capital works," Ms Skinner said.
"There is $1.3 million to begin the work.
"That commitment in total will be expended. It always starts off with planning and early works," Ms Skinner said.
"Beyond that, if we get a sudden amount of money from the poles and wires that we aren't anticipating, that would be a matter of negotiation with treasury," she said. "I can't give any guarantees."
Ms Skinner re-iterated that the hospital redevelopment was a long term commitment.
"If we promise something, I have to be confident we can deliver," she added.