Thursday, 30 October 2025

 Tim McCURDY (Ovens Valley) (09:56): I again stand here in this place to seek the support of the Victorian government and the Minister for Health, who is in the chamber, for dialysis in Cobram. For six years I have been raising this critical infrastructure request, and for six years we have been ignored. The Victorian government must govern for all Victorians. I know Cobram is on the Murray River and we are this close to New South Wales, but we are still in Victoria.

Cobram dialysis patients travel to Yarrawonga, Shepparton and beyond. Compounding this problem, there is very little suitable transport, either free or subsidised, to support those people to get dialysis. The Royal Flying Doctor Service is a tremendous service in Cobram, but it lacks the capacity to go to Yarrawonga because it goes mostly to Shepparton–Numurkah. One man last week told me he is now paying $800 a fortnight. This guy is on a pension. He does three trips a week to Yarrawonga to get dialysis. He is now paying $800 a fortnight on a pension, and I challenge anybody in this house to spend $800 a fortnight on taxi fares and then have a reasonable standard of living on what is left.

As I say, the government needs to realise there is more to Victoria than just Melbourne, and we need to support the residents of Cobram, because dialysis is a major issue and travel arrangements are at the heart of that. I certainly encourage the Minister for Health and the Victorian government to support Cobram in this quest.