A significant decision was made by the Wodonga Council on October 27, 2023, when members voted to allocate $17,852 towards hiring a lobbyist to advocate for a new Albury Wodonga Hospital. The motion passed with a 4-3 vote following an hour-long discussion at the council meeting.
During the meeting, newly elected councillor and former mayor Ron Mildren proposed an alternative motion. He suggested that the funds be used to secure health system expertise and legal support for a solutions-based advocacy program led by the council alliance group. Mildren emphasized that the push for a new hospital should be the responsibility of elected officials rather than external lobbyists. Despite his concerns, his motion was not adopted, receiving support only from councillors Libby Hall and Olga Quilty, while Michael Gobel, the mayor, along with deputy mayor Michelle Cowan, Cassie Aldridge, and Josh Knight voted against it.
Following the rejection of Mildren’s motion, the council approved the original recommendation by council staff, which authorized chief executive Matt Hyde to engage with the Albury Wodonga Regional Health Alliance regarding the lobbyist plan and confirmed the financial contribution of $17,852. As a result, a total fund of $72,500 has now been established for this initiative, which includes contributions from various councils: $23,329 from Albury Council, $9,275 from Indigo Shire, $8,263 from Alpine Shire, $8,138 from Federation Council, and $5,651 from Towong Shire.
Next Steps for Lobbyist Engagement
The preliminary framework for the lobbying campaign has already been drafted, according to Albury Mayor Kevin Mack. He indicated that further discussions among the councils are necessary before proceeding with a tender for the lobbyist’s appointment. The idea to engage a lobbyist originally came from Indigo Council, and Mack noted the need for a single council to manage the tender process since the alliance itself is not a regulated entity.
Albury Council plans to define the scope of the campaign at its upcoming meeting on November 10. A tender is expected to be issued soon thereafter. Mack expressed optimism about receiving responses by the end of December, stating, “If you went out in the first week of November, you would hope to have a response by the end of December as to who’s interested.”
The decision to move forward with hiring a lobbyist reflects a concerted effort among regional councils to advocate effectively for the healthcare needs of the Albury Wodonga community. The collaboration aims to strengthen their position in discussions with state and federal authorities regarding the establishment of a new hospital.
