Cheaper hospital parking for this state
The cost of hospital parking has long been a contentious issue, but recently, state governments have taken big steps towards reducing prices. Earlier this month, the NSW government announced a “huge reduction” in parking fees after tireless campaigning from sick 14-year-old Gidon Goodman. Now, it seems, Queensland is following suit.
After an online petition urging Queensland Health Minister Cameron Dick and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to reduce hospital car parking fees earned more than 16,000 signatures, the government has announced it will double the number of subsidised parking spaces at public hospitals around the state.
“Our hospital car park fees exceed Brisbane airport parking fees,” rural health advocate Justine Christensen, who started the petition, wrote. “No one goes to hospital for a holiday, they go to visit loved ones and access healthcare," Christensen added.
“Patients, carers, family and friends mostly cannot afford the exorbitant prices of car parking to either attend appointments, long-term care and treatment or to visit and care for a loved one. We ask that you please follow NSW and put a stop to profiting from sick Queenslanders (and northern NSW).”
A similar petition by Ipswich resident Kathryn McGowan also received 8,000 signatures. Finally, the government has taken action.
“I know the cost of car parking is a real concern for many patients, carers and their families,” he said, revealing new car parking concessions for financially disadvantaged or long-term patients and carers. “I want to ensure we provide greater consistency in how we deliver car parking concessions across Queensland, particularly how we communicate the availability of those concessions to patients, their family members and carers.”
The new subsidised parking spaces will become available across the state from October 1.