Thursday, 4 December 2025

 Emma KEALY (Lowan) (14:20): My question is to the Minister for Health. Rhonda has been waiting for knee surgery for five years. Why must Rhonda suffer for another day because this arrogant and lazy government has ignored essential public health workers undertaking industrial action today?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Minister for Finance, this is your last warning. Member for Frankston, your last warning.

 Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:21): On this side of the house we have always supported the rights of working people to organise, to unionise and to negotiate enterprise agreements. This is in stark contrast to those on the other side, who have fought tooth and nail to deunionise the workforce here in this state.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister is debating the question.

The SPEAKER: The minister will come back to the question.

Mary-Anne THOMAS: The Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association and the Health Workers Union continue to negotiate in good faith, and I encourage them to do so. It is all well and good to go and get a selfie on the front steps of Parliament House one day of the year; it is another to consistently stand up for the rights of workers.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, this question was about poor Rhonda, who has been waiting for surgery, and the minister has not even referred to this patient who is waiting. Shame.

The SPEAKER: I ask the minister to come back to the question.

Mary-Anne THOMAS: As I have said, on this side of the house we will always stand with working people and we will work to negotiate a fair outcome for the Health Workers Union members in negotiation with the VHIA. With regard to planned surgery in this state, in the last financial year we saw a record number of planned surgeries delivered – 212,000. That is more than has ever been delivered at any time in this state. What is more, we have seen a reduction in the time to treat for all category 2 and all category 3 patients. Of course we continue to deliver all category 1 surgeries within the clinically recommended time.

 Emma KEALY (Lowan) (14:23): How many surgeries have been cancelled because of the strike action today?

 Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:23): My department has been in touch with health services right across the state. We have worked with the union to ensure that, whilst legal industrial action is being undertaken, there is no impact on critical care being delivered to patients in the state of Victoria.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, this was a very, very specific question that asked for a number. The number has not been provided.

The SPEAKER: I cannot tell the minister how to answer the question. The minister was being relevant to the question that was asked. The minister has concluded her answer.