Mary Aldred (Monash, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Before turning to the context and substance of this motion, I just want to spend a couple of moments remarking on the closure of Leongatha Healthcare clinic in January, which has put an enormous strain on the south Gippsland community. For decades, the clinic's been the backbone of primary health care in the region, serving thousands of patients. Its abrupt closure has left staff and patients with little notice and disrupted access to vital care, creating immense pressure on Leongatha memorial's urgent care centre. There are GPs and staff working around the clock right now, with no pay from that clinic, to provide support to local patients. I want to acknowledge the significant effort that they're going to and extend, on behalf of the people of Monash, my sincere appreciation for their dedication and care to our local community.

Despite these challenges, the entire Leongatha health community have really gone above and beyond to keep that care flowing. They've mobilised quickly to provide telehealth consultations, alternative GP arrangements, patient support and much more. Those efforts ensure that, even in the face of the uncertainty at the moment, the wellbeing of south Gippsland residents remains the top priority. It highlights the vital role of regional healthcare teams. I also want to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of my state coalition colleagues Danny O'Brien and Melina Bath in working with local residents and GPs to make sure we get through this very, very challenging time.

Health care in regional areas is absolutely essential. What we're seeing at the moment is a prime minister who does not walk the talk when it comes to investing and supporting communities like mine in Monash, whether it's challenges in south Gippsland or, indeed, the West Gippsland Hospital, which was built pre-World War II—in fact, parts of it were built pre-World War I.

We are experiencing explosive population growth right across west Gippsland. In fact, if you listen to the demographer Bernard Salt, Warragul and Drouin are the fastest growing towns anywhere in Australia. The fact is that the infrastructure at West Gippsland Hospital cannot keep pace with that population demand. I'm working with my state Liberal colleague Wayne Farnham, the member for Narracan, to push as hard as we can to advance the case for a new west Gippsland hospital, which our region desperately needs. Unfortunately, successive state and federal Labor governments have ignored that plight. The Victorian state Labor government could not care less about the need for a new west Gippsland hospital, and I know Wayne Farnham is taking up the fight every single week to advance that.

On Medicare, we've seen a prime minister repeatedly promise that seeing a GP would be free—all you'd need is your Medicare card. Yet I get emails and phone calls every single week from Monash residents who are facing out-of-pocket costs at now record rates to visit their GP—particularly going over $50. Health inflation, as we know, has risen by 18 per cent. Across Victoria, families are paying billions of dollars of out-of-pocket costs every year, money coming straight out of their pockets—not Medicare. I get emails regularly from local families telling me they cannot keep their heads above water. They are really struggling with the cost of health care in their community. A good example is mental health. I'm working with some amazing local organisations, including the Village Health centre in Warragul. I've previously been a member of the board of Lifeline Gippsland. I know how many volunteers in our community are dedicated to advancing mental health needs.

But, when you've got a government that cut Medicare subsidised sessions from 20 a year—which the coalition secured—to 10 a year, it goes to show where their priorities are, and they are not investing in regional mental health services. They're not investing in regional health services that we so desperately need in the Monash electorate and further afield. Regional Australians are not getting a fair go from this government when it comes to investing in the services that they need. They deserve a far better go on health and hospitals. We've had the Prime Minister write to state premiers saying, 'Please stop spending so much money on hospitals,' as if people can stop getting sick. In regional communities like mine, those emergency departments are overflowing because of a lack of investment by successive state and federal Labor governments. Australians deserve better. My electorate of Monash deserves far better.

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