Tuesday, 16 August 2022

Euroa electorate

Ms RYAN (Euroa) (14:41): (6468) My question is to the Minister for Health, and I would like to know whether the new minister will actually acknowledge the vital role community-owned hospitals like both Euroa and Nagambie play in regional communities by creating for them a dedicated funding stream to ensure their ongoing survival. It is nothing short of outrageous that the Andrews government continues to refuse to acknowledge the very important role of these hospitals, which without dedicated state funding will be headed for closure. There are just five of them left across the state now. Two are in my electorate. The rest of them have now closed because the government continues to treat them as private hospitals, despite the fact that they are community owned. I have stood in this place many times over the years and called for dedicated funding for Euroa Health. Time is running out now, and I ask that the new minister look at this issue with a sense of urgency and fresh eyes.