Wednesday, 11 May 2022

Ministers statements: women’s health

Ms WILLIAMS (Dandenong—Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Minister for Women, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs) (14:38): Today I rise to update the house on the Andrews government’s commitment to improving women’s health. These past few years our state has faced unprecedented challenges, but these impacts have not been felt equally. The pandemic laid bare existing inequalities which have had a significant impact on women’s health and wellbeing. As 80 per cent of our healthcare and social assistance workforce, women have provided the bulk of the care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our women’s health services did extraordinary work in driving vaccine uptake on the ground and in promoting important health messaging across local communities.

This year’s Victorian budget rightly puts women’s health first. Whether it is $500 million to expand Barwon’s women’s and children’s hospital, $20 million for breast screening or a $1.2 million boost for HPV vaccination, whether it is record investment in our 12 women’s health services or over $240 million to address gendered violence, which we all know is the leading health issue for Victorian women and girls, this budget invests in what is needed, what is fair and what is right. That is why we are also providing $3.5 million to boost sexual and reproductive services because this government supports a woman’s right to choose, to access health and reproductive services safely, legally and with dignity—unlike some of those opposite.

When you invest in women’s health you invest in everyone. More than that, when you invest in health in a care economy you invest in women’s economic security. More nurses, doctors, ambos and midwives—this is what you get when you embed gender equality in your budget decision-making, and that is why we are also investing further in gender responsive budgeting. In every budget every step of the way, women are considered equally. ‘It’s historically significant’, says economist Dr Leonora Risse. ‘It’s good news for gender equal health’, says Gender Equity Victoria. And for our government it is just the beginning.

Mr R Smith: On a point of order, Speaker, I have got a number of questions that have not been answered. One is question 6520 to the planning minister. I raised this last sitting week. It still has not been responded to. It was due on 21 April and is with regard to fines issued by the Victorian Building Authority. I have got two to the Minister for Health that have gone unanswered. One was due on 10 March this year, as was the second one. I do have another one that has been sitting around for a minister in the other place. It was due on 9 July last year. That is question 5899. You would think if she was actually fixing the ambulance services, she would have an excuse not to answer questions. There is another one, question 6220. I am sorry, I made a mistake: question 5899 is for a minister in this place, the member for Albert Park. The Minister for Ambulance Services has not answered the question of 9 July 2021—unbelievable—about an ambulance station in Warrandyte. There is question 6220 to the Minister for Emergency Services in the other place, due on 24 March 2022. There are five questions all-up. As I said, one, ridiculously, is still unanswered since July last year. Can you believe it?

The SPEAKER: Thank you for raising that point of order.

Mr T Bull: I too have a point of order, Speaker, in relation to an overdue question. It is question 6551 to the minister for the environment. It relates to beach access steps at Lake Tyers, and there is a matter of urgency relating to this. I had a question answered last week that related to an event in January, so three months after it was over. If you could prompt the minister to respond to this, because it has some significance in relation to time. I have some less urgent questions that are also overdue that I will bring to your attention tomorrow.

The SPEAKER: I thank the member for raising those.

Ms Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, these are related to two adjournment matters that are overdue, both to the Premier. Clearly the Premier does not care about people in my electorate. They are adjournment matter 6290 to the Premier, around reclassifying the Yarra Valley as regional, asked 49 days ago, and matter 6310, also to the Premier, around not providing full disaster recovery for the Yarra Ranges, asked 36 days ago. I would appreciate the follow-up. Thank you.

The SPEAKER: We will follow those matters up. Just a general reminder to members not to add commentary to their points of order. If people want their points of order to be taken, it needs to be done in accordance with the standing orders of this house.