Thursday, 29 May 2025

Western Victoria Region

Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (13:03): My question is to the Minister for Health and concerns the axed funding for the By Five early years initiative in last week’s state budget. Operating across Horsham, Yarriambiack, West Wimmera, Hindmarsh and Northern Grampians, this award-winning program has transformed access to paediatric and development care for rural children in western Victoria by linking them with the Royal Children’s Hospital specialists via telehealth. This program has reduced wait times from months to weeks, ensuring early diagnoses and timely support for complex medical conditions. Families in Western Victoria already face huge barriers to health care, but the dismantling of the colorectal and pelvic reconstruction service has already compromised health and quality of life. President, could I start again after the break.