Thursday, 9 February 2023

 Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:53): (21) My question is for the Minister for Health and concerns the announced closure on 31 March of Epworth HealthCare’s Geelong maternity services. Around 100 women due to give birth at Epworth Geelong will be forced to shift hospitals, but the permanent consequences are worse. At 600 births per year and growing, the hospital represents more than 25 per cent of the area’s capacity. The decision to close an excellent, popular, modern, well-serviced, not-for-profit service, built with state and federal assistance, in one of the fastest growing regions in Australia is madness. Minister, what representations did you receive in support of the hospital and local birthing mothers, families and medical and nursing professionals from your Labor colleagues in the Geelong, Bellarine, South Barwon and Western Victoria upper house electorates, of which five out of six are women?