Tuesday, 5 April 2022

Ministers statements: federal budget

Mr FOLEY (Albert Park—Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services, Minister for Equality) (14:14): I wish to update the house on how Victoria’s healthcare system has once again been short-changed by the commonwealth government. Last week’s budget was an opportunity for the national Parliament and the national leader to act in the national interest, particularly when it comes to dealing with a national problem called a global pandemic and its impact on the country’s healthcare system. Instead what we got was a repudiation of a partnership model from this Prime Minister. What we saw was a $5 billion cut to the partnership arrangements with the states around how we deliver healthcare funding to our hospitals. In Victoria alone that is a $1.49 billion cut that the federal budget, Scott Morrison’s budget, has delivered to Victoria’s public hospitals, about exactly the same amount that we announced yesterday—Monday, Tuesday, Sunday rather—

Mr Andrews: Every day.

Mr FOLEY: every day indeed—about we how are going to build our system. So it was extremely disappointing, because what this government is doing is getting on and fixing and dealing with the problems of a one-in-100-year pandemic. When we were elected we had to fix the mess that was delivered to us by those opposite when it came to our health system. We have a proven track record, and we know that this one-in-100-year event has made huge dents in our public health system and in our hospital system. We are going to partner with our public health professionals, our doctors, our nurses, our allied health professionals, our primary care partners, our private hospital partners and our workforce, and we will fix this one-in-100-year impact on our hospital system by this record investment for a new system.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for South Barwon can leave the chamber for the period of 1 hour. Members have been warned.

Member for South Barwon withdrew from chamber.