<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sydneysiders have seen a hike in the cost of hospital parking, with the government pulling in a staggering $87 million in the last financial year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The hike is a 70 per cent increase in 12 months, with Western Sydney hit the hardest.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In December 2019, while in opposition, Health Minister Ryan Park called it a "sick tax", now he is being forced to defend the surge.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/zone-rv-caravan-company-enters-administration/5df3f233-9c01-46db-af56-b7dd0f29d42b" target="_blank"><strong><span>Hundreds of jobs on the line as caravan maker collapses</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I still contend that hospital parking fees remain a challenge, and I'm not pretending that they don't," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In the 2024 to 2025 financial year, parking costs totalled $86.9 million, a $35.2 million increase from the previous year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Western Sydney hospitals brought in the most, at $17.6 million, up $6.5 million.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/nsw-hospital-parking-fees-surge/66912d9e-3dac-46fc-959a-a4e41122578f" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>South Western Sydney followed with $16.2 million, up $5.3 million.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sydney Local Health District hospitals had the biggest increase, up 185 per cent to $10.1 million.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"People are telling me they are waiting longer in emergency departments, and when you go out and pay the car parking fees, it feels like an absolute kick in the guts." NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/search-hit-court-orders-massive-fine-against-google-technology-news/1cd34cce-90a6-414a-8b70-6980f8233474" rel="" target="" title="Google to be forced to pay $55 million fine"><strong><span>Google to be forced to pay $55 million fine</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The minister said the surge in parking revenue was due to staff receiving free parking during the first seven months of the 2023 to 2024 financial year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That was a hangover from a COVID-era policy introduced by the Coalition government and backed by the then Labor opposition.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Staff now pay a subsidised rate each day, along with patients, their carers, other frequent users, and those who are disadvantaged.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The reason we needed to make that change is, if we made that free in some of our large metropolitan areas, those car parks would be full by 7am," Parks said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></a><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727"><strong><span>Apple App Store</span></strong></a><span> </span><strong><span>and</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1"><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></a><strong><span>.</span></strong></div></div>