Many were shocked to learn there was no room in Tuesday afternoon’s state budget for Griffith’s health needs.

Among those concerned was Member for Murray Austin Evans, who slammed Griffith’s Base Hospital’s absence. 

He said the hospital was the “highest priority” for Griffith and the “biggest disappointment” of the state budget, which he says was otherwise the "best” he’s seen.

While funding for Stage 1 has been confirmed, Stage 2 is yet to be announced.

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“I’m not happy it’s not there,” Mr Evans said.

“The optimist in me says it’s because they weren’t ready with the figure yet, and as soon as we get the figure we can get it in there.”

Mr Evans is planning to “knock on doors” to find out why Griffith Base Hospital has been overlooked.

“For Griffith, it’s the biggest issue we’ve got.”

He said getting the hospital is the biggest priority, particularly for residents in Griffith and its surrounds.

“Confirmation of Stage 2 is the big ticket for me,” he said.

The Area News contacted Mayor John Dal Broi for comment only to find him upset.

Griffith Mayor John Dal Broi said he is “very disappointed” about the budget, saying it undermines expectations. 

“I’ve worked closely with Premier Gladys Berejiklian, the Deputy Premier John Barilaro, the NSW Minister for Health Brad Hazzard and our local member. So, there was an expectation that there would be funding there for the forward estimates,” he said. 

“I’ve tried to work through all the budget papers – I’ve had staff work through them – and we can’t find anything there other than a commitment of $35m and $6m – it’s disappointing.”

Mayor Dal Broi, however, laid blame on protests surrounding the nurses’ quarters.

“I believe that the people who were agitating for the nurses’ quarters – some of them were politically motivated to see exactly what has happened.”

Mayor Dal Broi said he will now have to “work my butt off” to turn it around, together with the local member.

“I want an explanation – what happened? I’m not going to leave it rest there; we’ll get our hospital,” he said.

“Guaranteed we will get it. We’ll have to fight hard for it, but we will get it.”

Mayor Dal Broi requested time to sleep on the matter before giving further comment.