Thursday, 2 November 2023

Maroondah Hospital

Emma KEALY (Lowan) (14:27): My question is to the Minister for Health. Can the minister update the house as to how the collapse of the second floor of Maroondah Hospital and the subsequent declaration of a code red is affecting staff and patients?

Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Health Infrastructure, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:27): I welcome the question from the member for Lowan. No government has invested more in the health infrastructure in this state than the Andrews–Allan Labor government. We have also made –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! We cannot hear the answer.

Mary-Anne THOMAS: We have invested in new developments in the ongoing maintenance and indeed to build a new tower out at the current Maroondah Hospital.

Emma Kealy: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister is debating the question. I ask you to bring her back to this very, very important matter, where there has been a collapse at Maroondah Hospital. Can she please update the house.

The SPEAKER: I ask the minister to come back to the question.

Mary-Anne THOMAS: Thank you very much, Speaker, and I welcome that opportunity. I can inform the house that, as I understand it, there has been a burst pipe at Maroondah Hospital. This has just happened, and I will seek advice from my department. I will make this point: when we are talking about the investments, maintenance and infrastructure needs of our health services, no government has done more. We will continue to invest in our health services. I will make sure that I am fully briefed as soon as question time is over to understand the exact circumstances.

Emma KEALY (Lowan) (14:29): Why did the government delay urgent funding for Maroondah Hospital to the point it has now collapsed?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition and the Premier will come to order.

Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Health Infrastructure, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:29): As I have already indicated, I will receive a full briefing straight after question time on this, but let me be clear –

Emma Kealy interjected.

The SPEAKER: Member for Lowan!

Mary-Anne THOMAS: no government has invested more in the upgrades and in the delivery of new facilities to both expand health services for all Victorians and back in our healthcare workers – not like those on the other side of the house, who at every chance disrespect our healthcare workers.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition will come to order. The Premier will come to order.

Emma Kealy: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister is debating the question. The question was: why did the government delay –

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Lowan will not repeat the question in a point of order. Minister for Health, I ask you to come back to the question.

Mary-Anne THOMAS: As advised, I will ensure that I receive a full briefing, but I absolutely reject the assertion by the member for Lowan that this government do not back in our health services, because we absolutely do. We are proud of our world-class health services.

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, in terms of being succinct and direct, the government have known about this issue, saying that they were going to invest in 2018 –

The SPEAKER: Order! What is your point of order? There is no point of order.

Bridget Vallence: It is 2023 and they are still –

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Health has concluded her answer. I would ask members to look at the standing orders and how to call a point of order.