The Victorian opposition has promised to build a second new regional hospital if it wins the November state election and will call on the newly installed Albanese government to chip in.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy on Friday announced plans to invest $400 million into the new $600 million facility in Warragul, replacing the existing West Gippsland Hospital.
The Liberals and Nationals would request $200 million from the federal government to make up the funding shortfall.
Despite having no assurance, and Labor ending nine years of coalition rule in Canberra, Mr Guy is confident he can secure federal support for the project.
"That is something that we would negotiate with the federal government over time," he told reporters in Warragul.
"Both the coalition federal government and the Labor party now in government have made those commitments to other states. We would hope that they would do this facility as well, and I couldn't see why they wouldn't."
A master plan has been drawn up for the hospital but there is no formal timeline for construction.
The facility would boast 200 beds and be built on a separate site to the current hospital using government-owned land.
West Gippsland's health services are soaking up huge demand from the region's growing population on top of Melbourne's eastern suburbs, Mr Guy said.
"This is not out of want, this is out of need," he said.
The Victorian opposition took a similar Warragul hospital promise to the polls in 2018, when it shed 10 of its 37 lower house seats.
The announcement follows new pledges for a $700 million hospital in Mildura, a $400 million infectious diseases response centre and for construction on the Melton Hospital to begin within 12 months of an election win.
Premier Daniel Andrews declined to say whether his government would match the opposition's latest hospital pledge.
"Promises from people who cut health and closed hospitals aren't worth much," he said in Bendigo.
Health is shaping as a key battleground for the November 26 election, as the Andrews government seeks a third consecutive term.
A $12 billion funding boost ffor the sector was unveiled in the May state budget but issues persist as COVID-19 continues to sideline health workers and place pressure on the ailing system.
Mr Andrews has spoken with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his NSW counterpart Dominic Perrottet to push for an extension of the 50-50 hospital funding split between states and the Commonwealth, which is due to expire in September.
"COVID catch-up will not be done by September. It's a longer-term project than that," he said.
"I'm hopeful that we'll be able to see that funding maintained."
