Thursday, 16 October 2025

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:17): (1080) My question is to the Treasurer. Treasurer, has the Victorian government contacted the ATO to request a private tax ruling to ensure that no employee from any site will be financially disadvantaged by the Bayside Health merger when it takes effect from 1 January 2026?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:18): We have another situation where the Shadow Minister for Health is picking up on an issue in her portfolio and trying to make it a Treasury question. If she would like some specifics about Bayside Health, it would probably be worthwhile either asking the Minister for Health or indeed writing to the Minister for Health for a response in relation to the operations of that health service.

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:18): Clearly the Treasurer, who is looking completely bemused, did not have a clue about it, so that is a no. Treasurer, Peninsula Health has 10,000 employees who will be impacted by the formation of the new Bayside entity and as a result cannot access the same salary sacrifice packaging benefits as those employees from other health services that will be merged under the Bayside Health entity. Why is there a discrepancy in the entitlements for nurses, doctors, allied health staff and other hospital employees who work at Peninsula Health?

The PRESIDENT: My concern is that the minister indicated it is a responsibility of another minister. I think that was the answer. A supplementary question not in line with the answer is a problem.

Georgie Crozier: On a point of order, President, if I may, I am very happy for the Treasurer to refer this to the health minister and get the Treasurer to speak to the health minister and get an answer for the Parliament.

The PRESIDENT: Through the minister representing the Minister for Health in this chamber, I think there is an opportunity for the actual question to be passed on in line with the standing orders to the Minister for Health. A minister can get up and say, ‘That’s not my responsibility,’ and that is the answer. That is the end of it. It depends on whether the minister is prepared to refer it and the person asking the question is prepared for that. Are you happy for both of those questions to be referred to the Minister for Health?

Georgie CROZIER: Yes. Thank you.

The PRESIDENT: Is the minister happy to pass those on to the Minister for Health?

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (12:21): I am happy if the Treasurer is happy.

The PRESIDENT: Thanks, everyone. That is the sort of society I want to live in.