Almost 400 cases of physical aggression occurred at the Calvary Mater hospital in five years, internal documents show.
The data can be revealed as concerns rise about assaults on staff in public hospitals, amid increasing presentations at emergency departments for mental health troubles.
Shadow Minister for Health Sarah Mitchell said "longer wait times and a breakdown in mental health services are likely to be the cause of rising physical assaults and aggression in our public hospitals".
The latest data shows Hunter New England emergency departments had 20,888 mental health presentations in 2024/25, rising from a low of 13,143 a decade ago.
Hunter New England Health district recorded the second highest rate per 100,000 people for this measure among the state's 14 local health districts.
The Mater data emerged through the parliamentary inquiry into the hospital's mould and maintenance scandal.
It showed almost half the 388 incidents of physical aggression at the Mater, which covered the years 2021 to 2025, were by patients in the psychiatric emergency department.
About 230 of these incidents involved physical and verbal aggression.
Meanwhile, hospital staff and health unions have raised serious concerns about a rise in physical assaults on staff in public hospitals.
The NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association (NSWNMA) general secretary Michael Whaites said "we are extremely worried about the rising incidents of violence and aggression towards nurses and midwives in the workplace".
An association report, titled "Occupational Violence has no place in my workplace", revealed 88 per cent of nurses and midwives surveyed had experienced or witnessed violence in the last year, with public sector staff most at risk.
"Hospitals across the Hunter remain under immense pressure as patient demand continues to grow, leading to ongoing challenges with bed block," Mr Whaites said.
"This pressure is further compounded by an increase in complex presentations.
"Our members are experiencing rising levels of violence and aggression in their workplace, as the health and aged-care systems struggle to meet community expectations."
The Minns government has established a taskforce to advise on improving safety for staff, patients and visitors in the public health system.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said "if you are acting aggressively towards others, you do not have a right to remain on hospital premises".
He said the taskforce aimed to "improve hospital security systems and reduce the incidence and impact of occupational violence".
Mr Park said this month that NSW Health was "ensuring security staff have the authority to direct and escort individuals from hospital premises when their behaviour creates a risk".
The Newcastle Herald asked the minister's office to provide figures on aggression incidents in Hunter hospitals.
The office referred the query to Hunter New England Health, which said the information was not publicly available.
Ms Mitchell, of the Coalition, said it was "incredibly concerning that the Minns Labor government considers the escalating situation serious enough to launch a special taskforce, yet at the same time they refuse to release the data behind that decision".
"How can the community be assured that the taskforce is working across the Hunter, if there is no transparent data at a local level?"
She said the health minister "can't keep hiding behind his public servants".
"Ryan Park needs to front up and answer the tough questions about why this is happening on his watch and release the data," she said.
Mr Whaites, of the nurses' association, said "we need to see a comprehensive, whole-of-system response to violence at work".
"We need a healthcare system with the resources and trained personnel available to intervene. Above all, we need action to implement the changes that are needed," he said.
