Wednesday, 1 November 2023

 John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:02): My question is to the Premier. Yesterday the Premier stated that residents in Mulgrave who are losing access to medical practices because of the government’s new health tax could attend the priority primary care centre in Glen Waverley. When trying to book an appointment at the centre, residents are told ‘This clinic is specifically for urgent care for injuries and illnesses, not a replacement for your regular general practitioner’. Will the Premier now apologise for misleading the people of Mulgrave?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:03): I thank most sincerely the Leader of the Opposition for his question, because his question proves the point exactly that the government has had to step in and provide greater access to primary care services because of a decade of inaction from former federal Liberal–National governments. If only the Leader of the Opposition used his energy during that period of time to contact his colleagues in Canberra –

John Pesutto: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, I ask you to draw the Premier back to the question about the inconsistency of what the Premier said in this house yesterday and what residents in Mulgrave discover when they go on to the website.

The SPEAKER: The Premier was being relevant to the question that was asked.

Jacinta ALLAN: The question was about how we need to provide more access to primary care services. And this is where the Leader of the Opposition thinks he is being rather clever, but by thinking he is being rather clever he has proved the point exactly that we are increasing points of care –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Rulings from the Chair are very, very clear that attacks on members are not in order and certainly not a cover for being embarrassed for being caught out.

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

Jacinta ALLAN: We have established 27 priority primary care centres across the state, because we have had to take the unprecedented action to step in and provide Victorians with access to more primary care services following nine years of inaction from the former federal Liberal–National government. If only the Leader of the Opposition, through those countless media interviews he was auditioning from outside of this place to his colleagues inside of this place – not once did he raise his voice in concern about what his former colleagues in Canberra were doing. We are stepping in and taking action.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the Manager of Opposition Business, I would ask that those at the table who have asked a question listen to the answer rather than interjecting constantly.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier’s response is nowhere near relevant to the question.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier has concluded her answer.

 John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:06): There are over 80 doctors who work in the electorate of Mulgrave who will be forced to pay the government’s new health tax. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has said that:

… more than 30% of practices that have to meet that taxation bill are likely to become instantly insolvent.

How is it fair that the residents of Mulgrave will lose at least 24 of their local doctors because of the government’s health tax?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:07): As I have said previously, as the Treasurer has said previously, the payroll tax arrangements continue to operate in the same way as they have for some time since 1983 across all sectors. I am happy to inform the house, though, about what has changed, particularly this year. Indeed just last week, as the Minister for Health has reminded me, last Friday, we were in Gisborne announcing another initiative that is increasing access for Victorians to primary care services through our pharmacy pilot program.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the question related to the people of Mulgrave losing their doctors. It had nothing to do with Gisborne.

The SPEAKER: I think the Premier was giving an example.

Jacinta ALLAN: Thank you, Speaker, because the question was about increasing access to primary care, and that is exactly what we are doing. We are stepping in because of the failure of the former Liberal–National government that has led to a lack of access to GP and primary care services – and we are stepping in in unprecedented terms.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! I would ask members at the table to cease interjecting during questions and answers.