Mildura electorate
Jade BENHAM (Mildura) (14:45): (612) My question is for the Minister for Health. What incentives are available to attract, retain and support nurses and other health professionals to fill the many health service jobs in my electorate of Mildura? Minister, the waiting lists for procedures such as laser surgery have blown out in Mildura to over a year, and yet a patient can travel to the Heidelberg clinic in the city and be in and out in under an hour. This is just one example of health service inequity in regional Victoria, much less the pay disparity. What can be seen from the great north-west is the ridiculously inflated pay packets for major project builds in the city, meanwhile our regional nurses are being insulted by an offer of 3 per cent and are now considering industrial action. A constituent in my community says:
We are medical professionals that requires 3 years at university and a minimum of 800 hours … placement …
… it’s a disgrace.
When will this government prioritise the lives of regional Victorians over union control in the city?