Thursday, 5 February 2026

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:17): My question is to the Minister for Mental Health. Minister, yesterday during a ministers statement regarding ADHD medications being accessed through the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department, you said:

It does not replace the critical role treating GPs and psychiatrists play …

So I ask: what consultation did the government undertake on this measure with peak health bodies such as the RACGP, the college of emergency medicine, the AMA and the college of physicians?

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Prevention of Family Violence) (12:18): I thank Ms Crozier for her question. It gives me an opportunity to again highlight how important it is to break down the barriers of access to ADHD, both in terms of diagnosis and the prescription drugs that are required in many cases. We know that far too many Victorians have been locked out of a diagnosis opportunity with a specialist. There are long wait times, and there are also really high costs associated with being diagnosed. As part of the changes that our government has announced, we are commencing targeted consultation with our key stakeholders. That is about looking at the regulations that are in place at the moment to allow GPs to be able to prescribe ADHD medication. That should be up and running around September. In order to support that work, we will be providing support through the colleges of $750,000, and that will enable about 150 doctors to be trained up in prescribing and diagnosis by September. This is all about making life easier for Victorian families. In particular it is important that young children with ADHD get diagnosed and get treated as early as possible so they can really achieve their potential as young people.

In terms of the announcements yesterday about the further access that we are providing through the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department, this is a fantastic initiative here in Victoria. It is the busiest emergency department in the state. It sees over 900 people daily, and in turn it takes that pressure off our other busy emergency departments where people present in person.

What has been going on at the VVED is that there has been some proof-of-concept work being undertaken by the clinicians that work at the VVED. It is a world-class –

Georgie Crozier: On a point of order, President, I have been listening to the minister’s answer. She was responding to the announcement on Tuesday and then again yesterday, but my question was very narrow around the consultation that the government has undertaken with those peak bodies, so I would ask you to draw her back to the specifics of the question I asked.

The PRESIDENT: I believe the minister has been relevant to the question and has touched on targeted consultation with stakeholders.

Ingrid STITT: I was about to go on to talk about how the proof-of-concept program has been operating. It has had a really strong focus on clinical governance, patient safety and an alignment with the existing prescribing requirements. The Department of Health will continue to work very closely with the VVED and with other stakeholders to build on this pilot, but I do want to make it very clear that it was credentialled paediatricians and psychiatrists within the VVED that were involved in this proof of concept. They are people who are currently authorised under the regulations to prescribe for ADHD.

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:21): It was very clear from the minister’s answer that there was no consultation undertaken. Minister, the president of the AMA has said this announcement ‘seems like a step too far without adequate consultation’, the RACGP says it was ‘totally blindsided’ by the decision and the chair of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists said ‘the government has announced another significant policy change without consulting medical colleges or ADHD experts’. The Premier’s reaction yesterday on social media admitted the government is ‘breaking … conventions’, so I ask: why is the government breaking conventions around health care without proper consultation with medical professionals?

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Prevention of Family Violence) (12:22): I do not accept the way in which you have characterised these matters, Ms Crozier. What we have been up-front about is that we are making changes to make it easier for Victorians, both adults and children, to receive the excellent clinical care that they need. We have been very clear in the announcements around the VVED that this will be prescriptions for one-off emergencies. There will still be strong linkages in with their practising clinicians through SafeScript, another really important reform of our government to make sure that GPs and specialists have a clear line of sight of what scripts patients are receiving. I will be working really closely with all of the colleges. I have nothing but respect –

Georgie Crozier: You haven’t so far; that’s the problem.

Ingrid STITT: We already have, Ms Crozier. You are wrong. I have nothing but respect for them and the professionals that they represent, and we will continue to work closely with them on these important reforms.

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:23): I move:

That the minister’s answer be taken into consideration on the next day of meeting.

Motion agreed to.