The Northern Hospital Academic and Research Precinct is a $50 million investment that would provide for the training of over 600 medical, nursing and allied health professionals.

This project is to be built in partnership between the Commonwealth and State governments, La Trobe and Melbourne universities, and Northern Health.

The Commonwealth government’s $14 million commitment to this project expired on 30th June 2011. However the Baillieu government has withheld the $11 million already committed by the Brumby Labor government that is needed to complete this project.

This decision was announced under the shadow of the Budget – a classic political move to have an announcement washed out by the news cycle.

Incidentally – and revealing of the Government’s priorities – the Baillieu government withheld the $11 million needed to secure a $50 million investment in health care for Melbourne’s Northern suburbs, and instead funded a program designed to assist hunters to improve their practical shotgun skills.