Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (12:49): (2648) My question is to the Minister for Health, and it follows a conversation I had with Merryn, a resident of Benalla, about her experience during cancer treatment and the significant costs incurred. Merryn needed to travel long distances and to stay away from home to access life-saving cancer treatment for sometimes months at a time, and her experience is shared by many across northern Victoria. In comparison with patient travel assistance schemes in other states, Victoria offers the lowest subsidy rates for accommodation and travel. I have met with organisations that understand the impact on those undertaking treatment, including the Cancer Council Victoria, Diabetes Victoria, the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, the Heart Foundation and the Leukaemia Foundation. There have been no substantial changes to Victorian patient transport assistance scheme rates since 2015 and subsidies have not kept pace with costs incurred by patients and families. I ask the minister to urgently increase financial support for regional patients travelling long distances for medical care. We need better access to specialist care in regional Victoria, but many people do not have any option but to travel long distances for treatment.