Thursday, 31 July 2025

Ministers statements: health system

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:08): Only Labor governments invest in our health and hospital system across the state, and only Liberal and National governments cut and close them. We are investing $15 billion to build the hospitals Victorians need and deserve so they can access that world-class health care we have in this state regardless of where they live.

We know that work is underway on that fabulous new Melton hospital, that beautiful new Melton hospital that is going to bring world-class care to one of our fastest growing communities. And, you know what, when you build a hospital you also need to staff the hospital, and there will be 4000 people working at the Melton hospital when it opens.

In Footscray you cannot miss that big beautiful hospital that has been built in Footscray. In Barwon Heads there are cranes on the skyline building a new women’s and children’s hospital. As the member for Frankston also knows –

Members interjecting.

Jacinta ALLAN: Oh, he is down there on the worksite inspecting the redevelopment of the Frankston Hospital. One of the best days in this job – and every day is a great day – was joining the member for Ripon at the opening of that wonderful Maryborough hospital, which is really transforming health care for that great community. Of course the member for South-West Coast knows there are building works at Warrnambool. There are building works in Swan Hill as well. As I said, not only are we building the infrastructure, we are staffing the hospitals as well – more healthcare workers delivering that great world-class health care that Victorians know they can rely on here in Victoria.