Tuesday, 31 October 2023

 John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:01): In a letter to Victorian medical groups the Treasurer admitted that the government’s health tax will put many medical practices out of business.

A member: Your question is to who?

John PESUTTO: My question is to the Premier. Will the Premier do the right thing and reverse the health tax?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:02): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question and for the opportunity to again repeat for the benefit of the Leader of the Opposition, as has been explained previously by the Treasurer, who has portfolio responsibility for these matters, and the Minister for Health, that there has been no change, and the Treasurer today made that very clear and provided that advice.

Let us also be clear on the action that we have been taking in terms of having to address the critical issue in primary care, which is of course addressing the decade of neglect from the former federal Liberal–National government. This is the key issue here that is affecting access to GP care in this state. This is the key issue here in terms of what is making it hard for Victorians to see a GP: it is the lack of bulk-billing services. And it is interesting, isn’t it. There was a decade or so – there were about nine, nearly 10 years – when those opposite could have raised their voice.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition, when you have asked your question, I expect you to hear the answer. I would also like to hear the answer without interjections.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, it is not relevant for the Premier to be speaking about a former government on a tax they are currently imposing themselves.

The SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order.

Jacinta ALLAN: As I was saying, there was deafening silence during that period of time as we saw bulk-billing rates decline, as we saw increasing lack of access to GPs, and that is why we have stepped in alongside the important work the health minister is doing. We are making more –

Danny Pearson interjected.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister for Transport Infrastructure will come to order.

Jacinta ALLAN: We have stepped in and established 27 priority primary care centres that are about providing more access for Victorians to GP services. This is the fundamental issue – we are making sure Victorians can access GP services. We are making sure they can access these services in 27 different communities around the state, and at the same time, guess what, we have an opportunity to work with the Albanese Labor government on supporting the work that they are doing –

John Pesutto: So they’re helping you.

Jacinta ALLAN: No, they are helping Victorians to get access to a GP by supporting increased bulk-billing rates, which is exactly what Victorians need.

 John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:05): The Royal Australian College of GPs has found that nearly 80 per cent Victorian GPs will need to charge higher fees to cover the cost of this government’s new tax. With Victorians facing a cost-of-living crisis, why is the Premier making it more expensive to see a doctor?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:05): In the supplementary question the Leader of the Opposition went to matters about the expense of seeing a GP. The biggest barrier to Victorians seeing a GP is the lack of access to bulk-billing doctors as a consequence of nine years of neglect from the previous federal Liberal–National government.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Mildura can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Mildura withdrew from chamber.

Jacinta ALLAN: Primary care is the responsibility of the federal government, but because there has been a fundamental failure by the previous Liberal–National government we have stepped in. Twenty-seven priority primary care centres are established across the state right now, and they are delivering Victorians that access to bulk-billing doctors.

John Pesutto: On a point of order, Speaker, the question was about why the Premier is making it more expensive for Victorians to see a doctor. I ask you to draw the Premier back to the question.

The SPEAKER: Order! I have reminded members before, a point of order is not an opportunity to repeat the question. The Premier has concluded her answer.