Western Victoria Region
Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:57): (65) My constituency question is for the Minister for Health and concerns the crippling shortage of doctors in some communities in Western Victoria region. The South West Medical Centre is just one example. As the Warrnambool Standard reports, the five permanent doctors employed in 2021 had all left by last year. Since then it has survived only with a succession of temporary GPs. This problem for regional Victoria is only getting worse with increased population and continuing neglect from the Melbourne-centric, inside-the-tram-tracks Andrews government. Not only are there worse care, lower quality of life and shorter lives, it fundamentally affects the viability of rural communities. Councils I visit say lack of services, including health care, discourages anyone from moving there. So, minister, what are you doing to address this threat to health and community viability?