Wednesday, 12 November 2025

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (13:41): I would like to take this opportunity to thank the leadership and staff at Anam Cara House in Geelong for the work they have done in providing exceptional palliative care services to the people of Geelong and surrounding areas, in particular the chair Diana Taylor, the CEO Vanessa McColl and all the staff for their dedication and their expertise in supporting and caring for patients with life-limiting illness and their families. This model is one that unfortunately was not supported by the Allan Labor government, but it was supported by the community. I would also like to thank the many, many community leaders and the generous philanthropists who provided their financial and personal support to Anam Cara House. It has not gone unnoticed within the community. It is a facility I have visited on several occasions. I have seen firsthand the exceptional care provided. I have raised in this place multiple times the need for greater support from government for Anam Cara. A pittance of money – just a couple of million dollars – would have sufficed. However, unfortunately that advocacy fell on deaf ears, and as I predicted, a takeover by Barwon Health has now occurred.

I again place on record the exceptional work undertaken by all involved in Anam Cara House and the need for proper, sustainable and adequate palliative care funding to be provided for palliative care services across the state. For years this government has ignored the need for proper funding. Instead they waste and mismanage taxpayers money and pander to big, corrupt unions. Only a Liberal-led government will restore integrity, stop the waste and provide sufficient funding to services that matter, such as palliative care.