Tuesday, 17 June 2025

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Health system

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (13:23): (941) My question is directed to the Treasurer. Treasurer, I refer to reports of the manipulation of ambulance transfer data at the Northern Hospital. The ambulance output measure ‘Proportion of ambulance patient transfers within 40 minutes’ in the 2024–25 budget has an expected outcome of just 65.5 per cent, which is far lower than the 90 per cent target. Treasurer, can you assure the house that the integrity of these figures upon which the budget measure depends is beyond reproach, or have these budget figures been cooked?

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (13:23): I thank Ms Crozier for her question, but it is unfortunately just another example of a portfolio issue that is being shoehorned into the Treasury portfolio because it is connected to money. In relation to the matter that Ms Crozier is referring to, the department is commissioning an external audit of that data is my understanding. In relation to the integrity of the figures in the budget and any of the outputs et cetera, I do hold them in the highest regard in relation to their accuracy et cetera, and we are the only state in the country that has them independently verified by the Auditor-General.

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (13:25): Just for the Treasurer to note, this is in your own budget papers – ‘Department Performance Statement’, page 66. It is clearly there. It is spelt out. It is very clear. You were responsible for it. What steps has the Treasurer taken to ensure the integrity of these budget measures, and will Treasury independently investigate these dodgy measures in your budget paper?

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (13:25): It is my expectation that health services report data accurately and uphold their own –

Members interjecting.

Jaclyn SYMES: It is my expectation that they should. In relation to the matters that the member has put to me, I would refer her to the health minister.