Premier under fire from Indigenous groups over ‘disrespectful’ hospital rename

Premier Daniel Andrews is under fire over a decision to rename Maroondah hospital after Queen Elizabeth II.

On Sunday, Mr Andrews announced a re-elected Labor government would spend between $850 million and $1.05 billion on rebuilding the hospital, and its Indigenous Australian name would be ditched.

CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Jill Gallagher, says the name change is “hurtful and disrespectful”.

Press PLAY below to hear why Indigenous groups are angry

“Without any engagement with our elected body … or any consultation, (Daniel Andrews) has gone and made that decision,” she told Tony Jones, filling in for Neil Mitchell.

“Whoever is advising him, they’ve got it wrong.”

Victoria’s First People’s Assembly, the Indigenous body established by the state government to set up a treaty framework, says the renaming is “culturally unsafe”.

Image: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images (Andrews), Google Maps (hospital)