Thursday, 31 July 2025

Responses

Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services) (17:38): I thank the member for Mildura for her adjournment matter and her advocacy on behalf of her community. The Mildura base hospital plays an incredibly important role in the delivery of healthcare services to people right across the Sunraysia and Mallee region, and I have had the opportunity to visit the hospital a number of times. Our government has invested $30 million into that hospital, having brought it back into public hands, which is something that we were very proud to do.

The issues that the member raises in relation to bed availability are issues that my department works with all of our health services on to ensure that we in fact make the best use of the beds that are available across rural Victoria, and that is indeed part of what our local health service network aims to do. There are many innovations in the way in which we are continuing to look to deliver health care, both in metropolitan Melbourne but also in rural and regional Victoria. But I do know that the member is asking this question in good faith, and I undertake to continue to respect her advocacy and work to address the healthcare needs of the people of Mildura.

But I do want to make a couple of points. I want to assure the community of Mildura that right across our state, the sickest patients that arrive at our emergency departments all continue to be seen immediately. Furthermore, 100 per cent of category 1 planned surgery patients continue to be seen within the clinically recommended time of 30 days. We will have more to say in coming months about the work that is being done that is showing real improvements in the way in which we are transferring patients from ambulance to our health services, which is as a consequence of the incredible work that our health services are doing to maximise patient flow in our hospitals, making more beds available. But I also am very happy to have a conversation with the member for Mildura in relation to this issue and indeed other health services in her electorate.

The member for Bulleen raised a matter for the attention of the Minister for Energy and Resources, and I will pass that on. The member for Footscray – unfortunately, she is not here, Deputy Speaker, because you removed her, but she did raise a matter for the attention of the Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts in the other place, and that is an update on our government’s Pick My Park program. She is pretty keen to see that program advantage her community, the community that she represents. The member for Ovens Valley raised a matter for the attention of the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, and the action that he is seeking is an explanation of the reasons why the costs of delivering traffic management for events in his community have increased. The member for Albert Park raised a matter for the attention of the Minister for Mental Health, and the action she is seeking is that the minister visit the electorate of Albert Park to see some of the great outreach work that the Salvation Army are delivering in her community.

The member for Prahran raised a matter for the attention of the Minister for Police, and the action that she is seeking is that the police minister instruct Victoria Police to deliver a comprehensive report on policing in her electorate. The member for Clarinda raised a matter for the attention of the Minister for Health Infrastructure, and the action that he is seeking is an update on the magnificent $535 million redevelopment of the Monash Medical Centre. I cannot wait to be out there as well to turn the sod, because that health service, as it continues to grow to meet the needs of your growing community, will also continue to attract the very best clinicians to deliver the highest quality care to the people in your community, something we are very proud of. The member for Richmond raised a matter for the attention of the Minister for Housing and Building, and the action she seeks is that work cease on the redevelopment of public housing for people in Victoria.

The member for Narre Warren South raised a matter for the attention of the Minister for Education, and the action he seeks is an update on the development of a new primary school in his region, Kala Primary School, which is set to open next year in 2026. I am sure the Minister for Education looks forward to doing that. Finally, the member for Ripon raised a matter for the attention of the Minister for Regional Development, and the action that she seeks is that the minister visit her electorate and meet with workers in Beaufort to talk with them about the way in which our government’s focus on key worker housing may well benefit them. Thank you, Deputy Speaker.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, Minister. Go Hawks for Friday night. The house stands adjourned.

House adjourned 5:43 pm.