Health organisations gathered at Parliament House in Canberra today to launch a new report calling on the federal government to fund feasibility studies to electrify nine pilot hospitals across every Australian state and territory.

The All-Electric Healthy Hospitals campaign is seeking $1.5 million in funding from the federal government to invest in feasibility studies for a nine-hospital electrification pilot program. The nine hospitals proposed in the pilot cover different climates and metro, regional and remote areas across every state and territory.  

The report, ‘All-Electric Healthy Hospitals: a Cost-Benefit Analysis’ found that electrifying 10% of Australia’s public hospitals each year from 2027 until 2036 would save $59 million per year in hospital energy bills, and lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking nearly 150,000 petrol cars off our roads. 

MPs Dr Monique Ryan MP and Dr Sophie Scamps co-launched the report today along with health organisations that represent 400,000 healthcare workers and community members. 

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) Federal Assistant Secretary Catelyn Richards attended the report launch in Canberra.  “This proposed pilot will create public hospitals that are better equipped to lower their energy bills, strengthen their energy security and stay connected in extreme weather events, all while reducing our sector’s emissions. It enables nurses, midwives and healthcare workers to keep doing what they do every day: protecting and caring for every person in Australia.” 

Main image: ANMF Assistant Federal Secretary Catelyn Richards, centre, joined other peak health bodies at Parliament House in calling on the federal government to fund feasibility studies to electrify nine pilot hospitals across Australia.