The Minns Labor Government is making historic investments in our public health system that will reshape the future of care for our communities and reaffirm our commitment to a world-class public health system. Two hospitals stand at the heart of that transformation in our inner west community: Royal Prince Alfred [RPA] Hospital in Camperdown and Canterbury Hospital in Campsie. Those institutions are more than bricks and mortar. They are essential public assets—places of healing, compassion and community— and they must be equipped to meet the health needs of every person, regardless of their income, background or postcode. Now, thanks to the leadership of this Labor Government, they are being upgraded to make sure we can deliver top-quality care long into the future.

Let me begin with RPA, a cornerstone of our health system for over 140 years. The New South Wales Government has committed a record $940 million to the RPA redevelopment—the largest investment in the hospital's history. It is not just a refurbishment; it is a complete transformation. Construction work on the site has now started to bring us a new hospital building and renovated existing spaces to meet the needs of the 740,000 residents of the Sydney Local Health District and the more than one million people who come to the district each day to visit, work and study. The works at RPA will deliver expanded and enhanced emergency and intensive care units, state-of-the-art operating theatres, improved adult and paediatric inpatient wards, expanded neonatal intensive care services, increased imaging and intervention services, a new arrival precinct to the north of the site and an open garden courtyard. This is a bold and visionary investment in the future of health care in our State. It is about building a hospital that reflects the excellence of its staff and the diversity of its community.

Equally significant to my community is the $350 million redevelopment of Canterbury Hospital. It is the largest upgrade of the hospital, which has served both the inner west and Canterbury-Bankstown communities for over 26 years. With over 48 per cent of residents born overseas and more than 145 languages spoken in this area, Canterbury Hospital serves a vibrant and multicultural community. This redevelopment is not just overdue; it is essential. The Labor Government's investment will deliver a new and expanded intensive care unit, purpose‑built adult inpatient accommodation, an expanded emergency department, additional surgical theatres, enhanced antenatal and outpatient care facilities, and improved accessibility, landscaping and wayfinding, The upgrades respond directly to the clinical services plan and the growing needs of our population. The Canterbury‑Bankstown local government area is predicted to grow by 13 per cent by 2036, with a 60 per cent increase in residents over the age of 70. The upgrades at Canterbury Hospital must meet the demands of today and tomorrow.

While these bricks-and-mortar investments are critical, innovation in care delivery is transforming the way we support patients. Just recently, I joined the Minister for Health at RPA to announce the expansion of the RPA Virtual Hospital—a groundbreaking initiative that is changing the way we deliver care. The new virtual care clinic offers urgent care services to patients in the comfort of their own homes. It is expected to save 85,000 visits from people who are unnecessarily waiting in our emergency departments each and every year. Patients can connect with multidisciplinary teams of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals via videoconferencing, receiving expert advice and treatment for non-life-threatening conditions. This care is accessible, it is free, and it is available seven days a week from 8.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. It is a powerful complement to our physical hospitals but, of course, nothing beats that face-to-face care delivered by dedicated health professionals.

That is why our Government is investing in the people who make our health system work. We have ended the unfair wages cap, and we are committed to safe staffing levels. These reforms will make sure that our professionals are supported, respected and empowered to deliver that high-quality care that our communities rely on. I am so pleased that an agreement has been reached with the NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association for an interim pay deal of a 3 per cent wage increase, with back pay; an increase to the night shift penalty rate from 15 per cent to 20 per cent; a guarantee of two consecutive days off; no night shifts before annual leave unless requested; and no changes on a public roster without consultation. I acknowledge the tireless work of our healthcare professionals, from our doctors to our nurses, allied healthcare workers, cleaners and administrators—everyone who works so diligently for the care of our community. Only Labor governments invest in public services with the scale, vision and urgency that our communities deserve, because we believe that everyone's health care should never depend on their credit card—only their Medicare card.