Labor candidate Katelin McInerney led the charge into the last week of the Kiama by-election campaign to formally announce the future of David Berry Hospital.

McInerney was joined by NSW Premier Chris Minns, NSW Health Minister Ryan Park and Shellharbour MP Anna Watson at the new site of the Shellharbour Hospital in Dunmore to announce the Berry hospital would remain a public asset.

“In 2023, NSW Labor made the commitment to our community that David Berry Hospital would stay in public hands, and we’re doing that,” McInerney said.

“This is a continuation of that commitment today, but it will remain a health facility into the future.”

Minns has “rolled up his sleeves” and had his work boots on for this Kiama by-election campaign - this was his seventh trip to the electorate in the space of a month.

“We know there is still more to be done and if Katelin is elected on Saturday, she will be a strong local voice in my government to deliver better health services for this community, including at David Berry Hospital,” he said.

This announcement provides security to not only a community health asset, but also a land asset, being 30 acres of prime real estate in the township of Berry.

Opposition Leader Mark Speakman has been pushing the government for clarity on the Berry Hospital.

“Labor opposed legislation last year to keep this in public hands, where the Liberals supported it,” Speakman said.

Park returned serve to Speakman emphatically.

“You cannot trust the Liberals when it comes to privatisation of our public assets. We have seen time and time again they will say one thing before an election and backflip the second they’re given the chance,” Park said.

“David Berry Hospital has been part of the community for more than a century and, although no longer suitable for its original purpose, it’s important that the continued future use of the site aligns with the values and needs of the local community.  

“The Minns Labor Government has kept its promise to keep David Berry Hospital serving locals and we’ve listened closely to the community’s feedback about keeping the site for health-related purposes.”

The Minns led government’s decision on David Berry Hospital weighed heavily on around 1200 people who responded to the 2024 Have Your Say survey, sharing their views on the future of health and wellness services at the hospital.

Through independent consultants, 130 community members were engaged through focus groups and pop-up events.

The hospital has been important in the local Indigenous community for decades because of its century-old history of providing support for First Nations people.

When asked specifically on the official use for the hospital’s facilities and whether Indigenous groups have been part of the consultation process, the Premier said they would be included in the vision for its future.

“We could have a look at a range of different resources in relation to that. An Aboriginal medical service I know has been touted in the past.

“I want to get this right.”

Both the Liberal and Greens parties have supported Aboriginal consultation for the future of the David Berry Hospital.

Recently, the Greens candidate for the Kiama by-election Dr Tonia Gray and Greens MLC Dr Amanda Cohn campaigned for the Hospital to be established as a centre of excellence for trauma-informed care.

“A centre like this would benefit a huge range of people, from victim survivors of family violence and sexual assault, to people who have served in the emergency services or in the defence forces,” Dr Cohn said.

Dr Cohn chaired the inquiry into equity, accessibility and appropriate delivery of outpatient and community mental health care in NSW in 2023, where 39 recommendations were proposed.