Health Minister Jill Hennessy said no money from last month’s state budget was directly allocated to the level one fit-out. 

This comes after the government issued a pre-budget press release saying Ballarat’s elective surgery waiting times would be cut thanks to the budget. 

“This record investment in elective surgeries will mean those patients in Ballarat currently waiting the longest will get the surgeries they need sooner,” Ms Hennessy said in the April 10 press release. 

Ms Hennessy said in the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee on Wednesday the project itself did not have funding but BHS could apply to the Regional Infrastructure Investment Fund. 

Western Victoria MP Joshua Morris said the April statement had been misleading, and that the soon-to-be-finished building would have a “ghost wing”. 

“Prior to the budget we had the government saying that they were going to address the skyrocketing elective surgery waiting list that we have in Ballarat,” he said.  

“At the PAEC hearing (on Wed) we heard that there is not going to be the fitout of the operating theatres at the Ballarat hospital.” 

“The only way to address the hospital waiting lists is through new operating theatres, and if the government is not going to deliver those operation theatres, they are not going to address the skyrocketing elective surgery waiting list.” 

The committee heard Ballarat’s elective waiting list has grown 37 per cent in a year to 1333. 

Ms Hennessy said she was “aware of some of the performance issues Ballarat has”. 

In a statement on Thursday, the minister said they would work with BHS on getting the surgical suites funded. 

“We are working closely with Ballarat Base Hospital to deliver the redevelopment, and will continue to work with Ballarat Health Services to support them to provide the care and treatment the local community need, when they need it,” she said. 

“Our new $200 million Regional Health Infrastructure Fund - the largest of its kind in Victorian history -  will soon be open for applications and we would encourage Ballarat Health Services to apply for funding.” 

Ms Hennessy also highlighted funding for the base’s emergency department in the budget.