Thursday, 6 February 2025

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:30): (793) My question is directed to the Treasurer. Treasurer, given that the health department secretary – or the now-outgoing health department secretary – and minister wrote to all health services in May last year telling them no further funding would be provided in addition to their agreed budgets and then a Treasurer’s advance of $1.5 billion was provided in August to bail out cash-strapped health services, will you be providing any further Treasurer’s advances to health services this financial year?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:30): I thank Ms Crozier for her question. What it demonstrates is the Allan Labor government’s commitment to health in Victoria. Not only are we providing the services that Victorians rely on, whether they are in the metropolitan hospitals or regional hospitals or in the mental health portfolio, Victorians can always rely on a Labor government to put health as one of our number one priorities. In relation to budget decisions, Ms Crozier, they will be part of the normal budget process.

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:31): We look forward to that, given what last year’s budget actually did and that the minister and the department secretary said –

Jaclyn Symes: More money in health than ever before.

Georgie CROZIER: No, no, no. You have stuffed it. We all know you have stuffed the budget. Treasurer, my question to you is: what discussions have you had with the Minister for Health about additional funding for the commencement of the networks on 1 July?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:31): I can confirm, Ms Crozier, that Minister Thomas and I speak regularly. In fact she was in my office yesterday talking about a range of her priorities. It is not my practice to detail the discussions that I have with ministers.