Thursday, 30 October 2025

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:01): (1101) My question is to the Treasurer. Treasurer, will the government be providing a Treasurer’s advance to Cohealth in Collingwood and the Better Health Network based in Bentleigh and Clarinda to cover the outrageous Andrews–Allan Labor governments’ cuts to key health services?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:01): I thank Ms Crozier for her question. Ms Crozier, in relation to the matter involving the provision of health services in the state, obviously this is better directed to the Minister for Health, and I think she is on the record yesterday as explaining –

Georgie Crozier: On a point of order, President, the cuts to health services in last year’s budget were propped up by a Treasurer’s advance last August, so I do think this is a relevant question that the Treasurer needs to answer.

The PRESIDENT: Ms Crozier, members have a right to ask questions of certain ministers, and ministers have the right to respond that that particular question does not fall inside their portfolio.

Jaclyn SYMES: Again, we have a situation where most things that the government is responsible for and ministers are responsible for have financial impacts. That does not make it the Treasurer’s responsibility in relation to policy answers. Ms Crozier, I understand the concerns in relation to Cohealth in particular; I know that was a topic of conversation in this chamber today. Any requests for funding in relation to that matter or any other matter will come through the normal processes, but your question is not appropriately directed to Treasurer. You should direct a question in relation to the Minister for Health.

David Davis: A Treasurer’s advance is entirely legitimate.

Jaclyn SYMES: I could give a Treasurer’s advance for anything, according to you guys.

Members interjecting.

Jaclyn SYMES: ‘I would like a new school in my electorate. Are you going to provide a Treasurer’s advance?’ It is a misuse of the Parliament to say that just because it could be –

Georgie Crozier: On a point of order, President, the government’s Treasurer provided a Treasurer’s advance to health services following the government’s cut to health services last year. It is exactly the same issue, and therefore it is relevant. I would ask you to ask the Treasurer to acknowledge that and provide an answer that the house deserves to hear: will the Treasurer be providing a Treasurer’s advance?

The PRESIDENT: Something unfortunate is that in recent times, in the time I have been here, which is maybe not that recent, there was a Treasurer in the other house who gave a very similar outline of their responsibility to the President at the time – the President previous to me – and the President actually made a ruling that the Treasurer’s answer at the time would be taken as a correct position to take.

Jaclyn SYMES: Ms Crozier, I am finding it quite frustrating, because I would like to answer questions when they are appropriately put. The issue we have here is that there is a responsible minister, the Minister for Health, with a clear interaction with the federal government in relation to Medicare and primary provision of health care. So you are basically jumping ahead and saying, ‘Is a future solution going to involve the Treasurer?’ It might.

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:05): Treasurer, has Treasury assessed the impact of the cuts and consequent closures to community health services and the diversion of patients to higher cost emergency departments?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:05): Ms Crozier, I do want to be kind, but as someone who is a shadow minister and actually wants to be the Minister for Health, you would understand that the Minister for Health answers that question, not the Treasurer.

David Davis: On a point of order, President, the question was: has Treasury assessed it? Now, they either have or they have not.

Jaclyn Symes interjected.

David Davis: Well, we have asked that. That is the question. Has Treasury assessed it, or has it culpably failed to assess it?

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Order! I do not uphold the point of order, and I think I put the position before.