Tuesday, 15 August 2023

Members statements

South West Healthcare

Jacinta ERMACORA (Western Victoria) (13:19): A week ago tomorrow I was thrilled to accompany the Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas as she visited South West Healthcare in Warrnambool. We showed the minister where the $384 million stage 2 investments will be located, including a new emergency department, new operating theatres and a new medical tower. The minister also visited the site of the innovative new linen and supply department currently under construction, where she met Ashleigh McCosh and Ben Harvey, who are both thrilled to be four months into their apprenticeships. Ashleigh was all smiles, saying she was really enjoying learning the electrical trade, and Ben is doing a plumbing apprenticeship.

As we toured the hospital we visited the community health centre funded by the Bracks–Brumby Labor governments. We saw the completed first stage of the redevelopment funded by Premier Daniel Andrews when he was the health minister. The minister pointed out that not only will these projects give great health benefits to the wider community, they will also create many jobs and opportunities for young people to be able to stay in their communities if they so choose, rather than leaving.

There is no doubt that Labor has a strong track record of investing in health in the south-west. I congratulate all involved in these significant and complex projects and look forward to celebrating the next milestones.