Wednesday, 18 March 2026

 Anasina GRAY-BARBERIO (Northern Metropolitan) (18:14): (2419) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Health, and the action I seek is to reverse the decision to abolish VicHealth. Health promotion fights the influence of big businesses that make billions in profit from products that cause preventable diseases, like big tobacco, alcohol and junk food. Late last year Labor announced they were abolishing VicHealth, Victoria’s only health promotion foundation. VicHealth work on SunSmart campaigns, they help people quit smoking and vaping and they take on the major corporations who benefit from making us sick – industries like big tobacco and junk food companies that old parties are too timid to oppose. Now Victorian Labor is absorbing VicHealth into the Department of Health, taking away its independence and ability to stand up to big corporations, so it is effectively disappearing. Our governments spend billions treating preventable diseases. VicHealth’s budget is just 0.15 per cent of our state’s health budget, but the behaviours they promote, support and provide can keep hundreds, if not thousands, of Victorians from the pain and costs of preventable diseases like cancer and chronic illnesses. Minister, VicHealth saves us money and a lot of pain.