A Clean Energy Revolution in Healthcare: Launching Our All-Electric Healthy Hospitals Report at Parliament House
Last month, healthcare workers, medical college leaders, and engineers from across the country walked the halls of Parliament House in Canberra with a clear message: our hospitals exist to protect human health, not harm it.
On Thursday, 13 August, Healthy Futures officially launched our landmark report, All-Electric Healthy Hospitals: A Cost-Benefit Analysis.
The findings are undeniable. By ditching polluting fossil gas and switching to renewable, all-electric systems, Australia’s public hospitals could:
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Save $59 million every single year on soaring energy bills, freeing up vital funds for front-line patient care.
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Slash carbon emissions, of which Australia's healthcare system is disproportionately responsible as a sector
Healthcare in Australia is responsible for roughly 7% of our national carbon footprint. As health professionals, we witness the devastating health impacts of heatwaves, bushfire smoke, and extreme weather firsthand in our emergency departments and clinics. Our public hospitals should be climate-resilient sanctuaries of healing, not major drivers of the climate crisis.
Parliament House
At Parliament we were joined by a powerhouse delegation representing nurses, surgeons, psychiatrists, and allied health staff, including delegates from the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine (ACEM), the Australian Federation of Medical Women (AFMW), the Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation (ANMF), the Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA), Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA), the Lung Foundation Australia, AMA Victoria, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP). Lead engineers from Lucid Consulting were also on hand to break down the technical feasibility of retrofitting our hospitals.
We were thrilled to have parliamentary co-champions Dr Monique Ryan MP and Dr Sophie Scamps MP speak passionately about why decarbonising healthcare is common sense, joined by attendees including Dr Gordon Reid MP and Zali Steggall MP, Kate Chaney MP, as well as representatives for Health Minister Mark Butler and local MPs.
After the briefing, the delegation took to Mural Hall for a vibrant press conference. Healthy Futures Co-Founder Dr Harry Jennens, Dr Monique Ryan, Dr Sophie Scamps, emergency doctor Dr Simon Judkins (AMA Victoria), and Caitlin Richards (Federal Assistant Secretary, ANMF) spoke directly to the national media gallery about why electrifying public health infrastructure is an urgent public health imperative.
Ministerial Delegations
Following the launch, our delegation split into two teams to take our demands straight to key decision-makers:
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Meeting with Assistant Minister for Health, Rebecca White MP: Our team walked through the overwhelming health sector consensus and highlighted how national retrofitting guidelines can unlock rapid transition across state health networks.
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Meeting with Special Envoy for Climate Change Adaptation & Resilience, Kate Thwaites MP: We explored how federal policy levers and intergovernmental collaboration can accelerate hospital electrification, tying directly into the implementation of Australia’s National Health and Climate Strategy.
Big Media Splash: Over 140 Hits!
The media response was incredible! The launch generated over 140 media hits nationally, with dozens of news outlets across the country, as well as features across national community radio and industry publications like Croakey Health Media, Pharmacy Daily, HVAC&R News, and Energy Source & Distribution.
What Comes Next: Help Us Secure the $1.5M Pilot Program
Releasing the report was just the start. Now, we need the Federal Government to fund the proposal!
We are calling on the Federal Government to fund a $1.5 million All-Electric Hospitals Pilot Program to carry out detailed engineering and financial feasibility studies across nine public hospitals nationwide.
Over the coming months, we will be:
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Preparing a comprehensive Federal Pre-Budget Submission ahead of the 2027 Budget.
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MPs across pilot hospital electorates to build unstoppable momentum from the ground up.
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Lobbying Mark Butler directly, asking him to make a special exception and set aside this money to test the feasibility of electrifying all Australian hospitals!
Take Action Today: Message Health Minister Mark Butler
Can you help us turn these recommendations into policy?
👉 Email Health Minister Mark Butler today and ask him to invest $1.5 million in feasibility studies to electrify Australia's public hospitals.
Together, we can build a climate-ready, zero-emissions healthcare system that heals patients and protects our planet.
(Photos from the launch by Ben Appleton / Photox. Check out our social channels for video highlights and delegate quote tiles!)
Photo credit: @photox / Ben Appleton