Wednesday, 5 February 2025

 Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:22): I rise today to update the house on the Allan Labor government’s work to make women’s health care more affordable and more accessible right across the state of Victoria. On this side of the house we are absolutely committed to transforming the way in which health care is delivered to women across our state. We know that for many women and girls cost can be a barrier to accessing the treatment and support and services that they need. That is why, as part of our $153 million commitment to transforming women’s health care in this state, I was delighted today to join with the Parliamentary Secretary for Women’s Health, the member for Northcote, to announce Victoria’s first ever virtual women’s health clinic. This new service will expand access to treatment and care for women who for reasons of cost, time, age, mobility or family circumstance are unable to attend a clinic in person.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Cranbourne! Member for Point Cook, you can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Point Cook withdrew from chamber.

Mary-Anne THOMAS: As an out-of-towner –

Members interjecting.

Mary-Anne THOMAS: All make way, here he comes, just as I am talking about health equity for women. We know that our new virtual health clinic will complement our 20 women’s health clinics, our 20 sexual and reproductive health services, and of course the mobile clinic is already on the road. It has been to Mount Beauty. It is currently in Edenhope. I know the member for Lowan, another out-of-towner, will be really pleased that our government is actually delivering services to people in rural and regional Victoria. This includes of course access to services like abortion care. The women and girls of Victoria know that the only government that will continue to deliver the health care that they need is an Allan Labor government.