$100 Million Albury Hospital Redevelopment Commitment

Coalition commitment, announced on 22 September 2026 by Liberal candidate for Benambra Steve Martin, of an additional $100 million toward the Albury Hospital redevelopment if the Coalition wins the November election. The Coalition says the funding would deliver 50 new beds, a multistorey car park, a full fit-out of the clinical services building, a helipad, a paediatric ward, operating theatres and specialist youth acute mental health beds, plus a health infrastructure feasibility study comparing brownfield and greenfield development sites, and that it would deliver the promised services even if costs exceeded $100 million. Context: existing federal, New South Wales and Victorian government funding for the project totals $558 million. Responses: Opposition Leader Jess Wilson said the commitment would provide quality healthcare alongside a real plan for the future. Stan Stavros, director of Better Border Health, welcomed the immediate delivery of beds but criticised further investment in what he called a compromised site. Wodonga Mayor Michael Gobel welcomed the feasibility study but said additional funding could jeopardise a greenfield business case. Premier Ben Carroll described the announcement as desperate politics and questioned the Coalition's trustworthiness. Albury Hospital serves communities on both sides of the Victoria-New South Wales border, so the project involves funding from both states.