The Calvary Mater Hospital in Newcastle will be the subject of a parliamentary inquiry following a series of scandals involving mould and maggots. The inquiry was proposed by the Coalition and passed with support from the Greens, despite Labor voting against it.
The investigation will examine management, maintenance, and operational issues at the hospital, with a focus on incidents involving mould, water damage, and pest infestations. Multiple wards have been closed in 2026, including the intensive care unit, due to deadly mould in air-conditioning vents and maggots falling from ceilings onto patients.
Opposition health spokeswoman Sarah Mitchell, who introduced the inquiry, said it is a win for patients and staff. Greens health spokeswoman Amanda Cohn criticized the government's stance on public-private partnerships, noting that the inquiry can help address the hospital's problems.
Labor minister Courtney Houssos said the government does not support the inquiry but takes the issues seriously, emphasizing the need to fix problems first. The inquiry will be conducted by the NSW Legislative Council Health Committee, with hearings expected in Newcastle.
The hospital is also facing a class action from law firms seeking people who lost loved ones in its cancer wards between January 2024 and April 2025. The action follows revelations that maintenance contractor Honeywell was informed in October 2024 about dangerous Aspergillus mould in air-conditioning ducts, but staff and patients were not told for six months.
