Wednesday, 4 October 2023

 Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Health Infrastructure, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:12): I rise to update the house on how the Allan Labor government’s commitment to building more homes right across our state will help us grow the healthcare workforce that we need in rural and regional Victoria. Nearly one-quarter of our 340,000-strong healthcare workforce live and work in rural and regional Victoria. In the last five years we have grown that workforce by more than 14 per cent, but there is still more to do. One of the great challenges that we face in securing the workers that we need is access to secure, safe, stable and affordable housing for our healthcare workers. That is why the Allan Labor government’s commitment and our Premier’s commitment to delivering on each and every element of the housing statement is so important for health.

In this statement we have committed to over 400,000 homes to be built in regional Victoria as part of our plan and more secure rental accommodation, meaning that there will be more opportunities for healthcare workers, including so many that want to take this opportunity to work in rural and regional Victoria. We have already recruited more than 2000 international healthcare workers to the state as part of our commitment to our COVID catch-up plan. But let me say this: almost a quarter of those have gone to the regions and we want to support them to be there. We are providing incentives for GPs to grow their careers in rural and regional Victoria, we are growing our nursing and our ambo workforce, and they are taking up opportunities in rural and regional Victoria. Our housing statement will deliver the housing that we need to continue to grow and develop that workforce, unlike those on the other side of the house who attack our healthcare workers at every single stage. We are focused on building the housing that our healthcare workforce need and – (Time expired)