Wednesday, 11 September 2024

Ministers statements: health services

Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Health Infrastructure, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:46): I rise to update the house on the Allan Labor government’s support for Victorians to access the primary health care that they need across Melbourne’s east and south-east. I know that I sound like a broken record on this issue in this place, but it is because of the record of the former federal Liberal government that primary care is broken, and the Allan Labor government has to step up and do something about it. I spoke last week about this government’s investment in urgent care centres, including in the members for Glen Waverley and Oakleigh’s electorates. We are also committed to UCCs run by community health, including in Richmond and Parkville – the same community health sector that faced deep cuts under the previous Liberal government.

In contrast, the Allan Labor government has delivered even more primary care options for the people of Melbourne’s east and south-east. Thanks to our community pharmacy pilot, more than 18,000 services have been delivered to Victorians. That is thousands of Victorians who have accessed treatment for minor skin conditions, reissues of the oral contraceptive pill and medication for uncomplicated UTIs, all from their local pharmacy. This includes pharmacies in Bentleigh, Clarinda, Mordialloc, Oakleigh, Mulgrave, Carrum, Box Hill and of course Hawthorn. I know that the people of Hawthorn are very grateful for this trial, and I hope that the member for Hawthorn is also supportive of this very important trial. Of course our trial is not the only trial in town, but I am sure that the member for Hawthorn is feeling much more upbeat about the community pharmacy trial than he is about his own appearance next week. Our government will always stand for primary health care.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, ministers statements are not an opportunity to attack the opposition.

The SPEAKER: The minister to come back to her statement. The minister has concluded her statement.