Gippsland East MP, Tim Bull, said the Labor Government’s request for all hospitals across country Victoria to cut funding would have disastrous ramifications for regional communities.
“I spoke about this in Parliament last sitting week. Our health system is not going that well that the Minister should be cutting funds across the board. It is a time when it should be striving for better outcomes and investing more,” he said.
“To think hospitals are being asked to cut funds and not impact front line services is fanciful thinking from the Minister, and much easier said than done.
“Even if it could be achieved, it will only result in job losses to small communities like Orbost and Omeo that have already been hit hard by the timber industry decision.
“The government should be supporting these communities, and I will be working with my local health agencies to push back on this horrible decision.
“Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas needs to explain how the government can justify building the Suburban Rail Loop at a cost of $214 billion (blown out from $50 billion) while at the same time, cutting funding to our already stressed hospital and health system.
“It really does beggar belief that this is the thinking around priorities.
“Post COVID, the State Government has been asking our health system to do more and now it is forcing them to do it with less support,” Mr Bull said.
“The outcomes from this will almost certainly impact on both service levels and local jobs, and neither is acceptable.
“The consequences are dire, with over a dozen regional health services reporting operating losses in the last financial year alone. “Projections indicate that by June more than half of Victoria’s health services could face negative daily cash balances.
“This is from a government in more debt than any other state; heading to a debt higher than NSW, Queensland and Tasmania combined; is currently paying $15 million in interest a day on its debt which is headed to closer to $40 million per day – and is pushing ahead with the Suburban Rail Loop while cutting health budgets.
“Make no mistake – as a result of this government’s inability to manage projects or debt levels, we are all paying the price through diminishing levels of service and higher taxes across the board.
“Victorians are already taxed more than any other state and it is getting worse.
“I urge regional communities to push back and demand our health services are better supported,” he said.
