It is the only hospital on the north-side of town - southside has several (because private hospitals and clinics have clustered around the main public hospital at Woden). Calvary offers a limited service and there have been issues with their religiously moderated approach for many decades, including their treatment of "unwed mothers" and others who are traditionally disapproved of. Subtle forms of discrimination are quite ingrained, like almost anything religious organisations touch. This issue goes well beyond the delivery of abortion or gender-affirmation surgery that are current hot topics and has more to do with the management picking and choosing what services it will provide and to who. Essentially, the local ACT government, on behalf of all rate/tax-payers, has made the call that a normal, public, hospital on that site would better serve the community. That should be the end of the matter if current contracts are wound up properly. It has nothing to do with 99 year leases on residential land or whether or not the church and its minions like the outcome. Personally, I hope this becomes a precedent for other areas of, what should be, public services - including aged care, counselling and schooling.
