Thursday, 4 December 2025

 Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:18): I rise to update the house on Labor’s investment in the health of all Victorians. I was so pleased to join the member for Footscray only a couple of days ago at the old Footscray Hospital. We were there to make a very important announcement, and that is that the new Footscray Hospital will see its very first patients on Wednesday 18 February. Once fully operational, this new hospital will have more than 500 beds and will be able to treat an additional 15,000 patients every year while supporting an additional 20,000 presentations to our emergency departments. This state-of-the-art hospital is an investment in the health and wellbeing of people right across Melbourne’s west.

But we have been doing so much more. It was great to be with the member for Yan Yean at the new Mernda Community Hospital, delivering important paediatric services to her growing community. The Phillip Island Community Hospital, the Sunbury Community Hospital, the Craigieburn Community Hospital and the Cranbourne Community Hospital were all delivered by an Allan Labor government. These are just a few examples of the investments that our government are making because we are absolutely committed to delivering the world-class healthcare that Victorians deserve. And these are a real boon for our healthcare workforce, meaning that more of our healthcare workers can get good jobs close to where they live as we continue to expand our healthcare service.

This is what Labor does. This is why we are here. The contrast could not be clearer. We will not be cutting healthcare workers’ jobs, we will not be closing hospitals and we will not be privatising hospitals. That is what those on the other side will do to fill their $11.1 billion budget black hole.