Thursday, 3 August 2023

Ministers statements: priority primary care centres

Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Health Infrastructure, Minister for Medical Research) (14:35): We know that Victorians are struggling with the cost of living right now. That is why I rise to update the house on the Andrews Labor government’s priority primary care (PPC) centres. It has never been harder to see a GP, let alone one that bulk-bills. It should not be this way, but the former federal Liberal–Nationals government absolutely broke primary care. Access to fast, free and local GPs keeps people well and out of hospital. However, this is not how the system is working. When you can get an appointment, too many families are hit with really high out-of-pocket costs.

A member: What are you doing about it?

Mary-Anne THOMAS: I will tell you what I am doing about it. What we know from the impact of the federal Liberal–National parties government in Canberra is that families cannot access the care that they need, and that is why we have established our priority primary care centres. I am thrilled to inform the house that we now have 27 operating across the state, and since their establishment they have seen 100,000 patients. This is delivering the care that our families need.

Take Milla, for example, a young woman who recently took a knock to the head while playing footy in the north-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Her mother was reluctant to go to emergency, unsure where to go. She went to a PPC centre. Milla got all the care that she needed so she could get back to playing the game that she loves. Milla’s mum described the experience as ‘bloody brilliant’. Bloody brilliant indeed, and only the Andrews Labor government can be trusted to deliver affordable health care for all Victorians, no matter where they live.

The SPEAKER: Order! I probably should remind the minister about parliamentary language, even if it is a quote.