Thursday, 23 June 2022

Western Metropolitan Region

Mr FINN (Western Metropolitan) (12:45): (1871) My constituency question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, Melton City Council is a particularly good council. Most of its councillors are very proactive and set a fine example to nearby councils—I wish they would pay attention. Cr Goran Kesic, the mayor of Melton, has written to me outlining problems concerning a lack of GPs serving locals.

Mr Ondarchie: A good man.

Mr FINN: He is a very good man. The shortage is bad enough now, but as Cr Kesic points out, it will become critical as Melton continues to grow at an astonishing pace. I should also point out that the shortage of doctors is widespread across much of Melbourne’s west and in particular new suburbs and subdivisions that are popping up almost on a daily basis. It is a serious issue for hundreds of thousands of my constituents. Minister, what incentives can the government offer to attract more general practitioners to not just the City of Melton but all of Melbourne’s west?