Thursday, 27 August 2026

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:28): (1451) My question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, it has been widely reported that convicted murderer Alicia Schiller has received taxpayer-funded medical treatment for obesity-related conditions while in prison, and it also includes eyelid surgery and weight loss medication that costs other Victorians hundreds of dollars per month. Minister Staikos said on 16 July that these clinical decisions were ‘to prevent serious illness, which will end up costing the taxpayer more’. 68,000 Victorians, from the last VAHI data – we still have not got the latest; you will not release it – are on the waitlist for vital surgery. If not treated, their conditions will not only lead to further deterioration but also cost the taxpayer more. Minister, what advice has the government received regarding the justification for providing surgery to prisoners ahead of other Victorians who are waiting on the waitlist to prevent future cost?

Ingrid Stitt: On a point of order, President, I believe this is a question that would be more appropriately directed to the corrections minister in the other place.

Georgie CROZIER: On the point of order, President, this is regarding providing surgery to prisoners. This person will end up in the hospital system, which the minister has direct responsibility for, and I am asking about her priority over the 68,000 Victorians who are waiting.

The PRESIDENT: I am taking the minister’s point of order. If I put the question, the minister will say it is a matter for the Minister for Corrections, I assume. Do you want to direct it to the Minister for Corrections?

David Davis: Further to the point of order, President, essentially the hospitals are deciding to put the prisoners in first, and that is a decision by her.

Members interjecting.

David Davis: That is a decision of her hospitals. You cannot just wish it away – and you are becoming a bit of a problem on this.

Michael Galea: On a point of order, President, it is outrageous for Mr Davis to be reflecting on the Chair and pointing.

The PRESIDENT: I am not taking your point of order. You are leaving for half an hour. I am not listening to you. You are leaving for half an hour. My ego can take whatever you say, but you were very aggressively pointing to me. Maybe do not do that.

David Davis withdrew from chamber.

The PRESIDENT: Ms Crozier, I am happy to put your question to the minister, but my expectation is the minister may say that it is another minister’s responsibility.

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Mr McIntosh, what happens is things get evened up, and you are heading there.

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ambulance Services, Special Minister of State) (12:32): These are clinical decisions that are made in our health services each and every day by clinicians. In relation to the matters that Ms Crozier has raised about the corrections system, I am happy to refer those to the appropriate minister in the other place outside of the standing orders, given that I do not formally represent the corrections minister in this place. But I will provide that question to that minister, and hopefully we can get you some helpful advice.

The PRESIDENT: I am not too sure what supplementary you can ask.

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:32): It is very simple: Minister, how long was Ms Schiller on the waiting list for surgery?

The PRESIDENT: I am going to put the question, but I imagine it would be a matter for the corrections minister as well.

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ambulance Services, Special Minister of State) (12:33): Medical privacy considerations aside, Ms Crozier’s question is very detailed about an individual patient in the system who is also in the corrections system. Again, I am not in a position to have that information available to me in the chamber, but I am very happy to refer it to the corrections minister.

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:33): Apologies for doing this again. I move:

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

Motion agreed to.