BRISBANE, Queensland, Sept. 14 -- The Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet issued text of the following statement:

JOINT STATEMENT

Premier and Minister for Veterans

The Honourable David Crisafulli

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services

The Honourable Tim Nicholls

* The Crisafulli Governmentis delivering ona keyelectioncommitment toreturnbirthing servicestoCooktown andBiloela. * Birthing services will commence on 14 September, meaning eligible women and families in Cooktown and Biloela will once again be able togivebirthcloser to home. * Birthing services inCooktownand Biloelawere shut down by the former Labor government in 2022, with no plan torestorethem. * TheCrisafulli Government is deliveringhealth services when Queenslanders need them and healing Labor's HealthCrisis.

TheCrisafulli Government is delivering onanotherkeyelection commitment, withbirthingservices at bothCooktown Multipurpose Health Service and Biloela Hospitalto returnfromMonday 14 Septemberafter being shut down by Laborin2022.

The return ofplannedbirthing services means that more local mums will be able tohave their babiescloser to home, as part of the Crisafulli Government'splan to deliver health services when Queenslanders need them and healLabor's Health Crisis.

Labor oversaw a crisis in maternity services, with Gladstone birthing bypassed through 2022 and 2023.In recent decades, dozens of rural birthing services were closed by Labor, including Cooktown (981 days) and Biloela (793 days),with no plan for their return.

Birthing is returning to Cooktown Multipurpose Health Service following sustained workforce development and recruitment by Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service.

This includes the hiring ofadditionalobstetric-trained Rural Generalists to complement the Cooktown medical team, with the health service having already recruited the midwives and anaesthetic-trained Rural Generalistsrequiredto support the service.

Eligible women in Biloela and across the Banana region will also be able to welcome their babies closer to home, after extensive preparation and consultation with the local community by Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service.

Under Labor, the condition of the birthing suite fell into such a state of disrepair that birthing services could not be safely delivered.

The Crisafulli Government fast-tracked infrastructure upgrades, in addition tonew staffaccommodation to help attract andretaina local health workforce.

Premier David Crisafullisaid the return of local birthing was asignificantmilestone for both communitiesand was part of delivering health services when Queenslanders need them.

"We made a commitment to regional Queenslanders we'd restore these services and that's exactly what we've done," Premier Crisafulli said.

"Families have waited a long time for the return of these birthing services after they were cut by the formerGovernment.

"I was born in a small country hospital so delivering on this commitment is deeply personal for me."

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nichollssaid significant work to strengthen local workforces, clinical capability and infrastructure was key to ensuringbirthing couldreturn in a safe and sustainable way.

"We'vemade targetedinvestments to recruitmore clinicians andimprove localfacilitiestoensure the safereturnof birthingservices to these communities," Minister Nicholls said.

"This is about delivering on our commitment to regional Queensland and making sure women and families can access quality maternityand birthingcarecloser to home and their support systems.

"The facts now speak for themselves - Labor Governments close maternity services, while LNP Governments open them."

Member for Cook David Kempton said the former LaborGovernment had disregarded the needs of Cooktown and Far North Queensland families when they closed the local birthing services.

"Families who previously would have needed to travel to Cairns from 4 to 6 weeks prior to the birth of their babies may no longer need to do so thanks to these vital services being restored," Mr Kempton said.

Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Rex O'Rourke said the return of birthing was an important milestone for the region.

"We expectapproximately40 birthseachyear from Cooktown and surrounding communities," Mr O'Rourke said.

"Of course,women may still choose to birthelsewhere, however,for the first time in many years they once again have thechoiceto birth locally."

Member for Callide Bryson Head saidthe reinstated birthing services showedthe Crisafulli Government would not turn its back on regional communities, which had been left in the lurch during Labor's decade of decline.

"The Crisafulli Government has invested in upgrades to the birthing suite and theatre, as well as brand new staff accommodation to help attract more clinicians to our region," Mr Head said.

"While Labor turned its back on Bilo families, just as it did on many rural communities throughout the state, the Crisafulli Government is committed to ensuring that all Queenslanders have access to world-class healthcare no matter where they live."

Central Queensland Health Chief Executive Lisa Blacklerwelcomed thesignificant and positive step for local families and the Biloela community.

"With referrals now open, local women can have conversations with their healthcare team about their individual circumstances and whether giving birth closer to home may be an option for them," Ms Blackler said.

"We recognise the value of having maternity care available locally and what that means for families."

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT:Torny Miller, 0439 426 196

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.