Friday, 14 November 2025

 Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:49): My question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, I have been made aware of urgent concerns about Dandenong Hospital’s maternity and newborn services. Reports suggesting plans to downgrade maternity from level 4 to level 3 and the special care nursery from level 3 to level 2 are concerning. Will the minister confirm if this is true, and if so, indicate what steps will be taken to protect clinical safety, retain skilled neonatal staff and ensure culturally safe care for our diverse, low-income community? And will the government guarantee that no service reductions will occur until an independent equity and impact assessment is completed and full community consultation happens? Families in Dandenong deserve certainty, not local situations where they are depleted of their services. Local maternity care must remain safe, accessible and fully supported.