Wide Bay’s Population is Booming, But Health Investment Hasn’t Kept Up
Wide Bay is the fastest-growing regional area in Queensland, with over 2% annual growth—and this trend isn’t new. Over the past decade, no other regional area has grown as fast.
At the same time, Wide Bay has one of the oldest populations in Australia, with a median age of 49 (Census 2021). A rapidly growing, aging population should be a top priority for healthcare investment.
Yet, health funding has not kept pace with our region’s needs.
Hospitals Are Under Strain, Patients Are Being Sent Elsewhere
Maryborough Hospital once served as the main regional hub, but as Hervey Bay has grown, so too has its role in healthcare delivery. While Maryborough still provides important services, it increasingly plays a secondary role to Hervey Bay’s expanding hospital facilities.
Meanwhile, Gympie Hospital frequently has to transfer patients to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH), often for specialist care that isn’t available locally. Whether due to capacity limits or service gaps, the result is the same—residents forced to travel long distances for urgent medical attention.
With Wide Bay’s rapid population growth and aging demographic, we need a healthcare system that keeps pace, ensuring local hospitals are properly resourced so that residents aren’t forced to seek critical care hours away.
The challenge isn’t just about catching up—it’s about planning ahead for the continued growth of Wide Bay.
Why Is Our Health Investment Lagging?
Health funding in Australia should be based on population needs—but in reality, it often follows political calculations. Marginal seats tend to receive disproportionate investment, while safe seats like Wide Bay are overlooked.
This isn’t about party politics—it’s about a broken system that prioritizes votes over community needs. Wide Bay’s growth and aging population make healthcare funding a no-brainer, yet we continue to be treated as an afterthought.
An Independent Voice for Fair Health Funding
Wide Bay deserves parity—funding that reflects our actual population and healthcare needs, not whether we are considered an “electoral priority.” We need independent leadership willing to challenge the major party funding bias and demand our fair share.
Good health policy isn’t about election cycles—it’s about ensuring that every person in Wide Bay has access to the care they need, where they need it, when they need it.
Casey for Wide Bay 