Daniel Andrews reveals his post-pandemic vision for Geelong

Premier Daniel Andrews has told of how he plans to alleviate population pressures in Geelong and relieve a ‘very tired’ health workforce ahead of the 2022 election.

PREMIER Daniel Andrews has outlined how his government will focus on alleviating population pressures, relieving a “very tired” health workforce and the future of the public sector leading up to 2022 election.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Addy to mark a year to election day, Mr Andrews said the Geelong region was the number one location for Melburnians seeking a sea or tree change.

“It’s a wonderful complement but it is also a significant challenge to make sure that the hospital is big enough, that the schools are big enough,” Mr Andrews said.

Premier Dan Andrews at the unveiling of the redevelopment of the Geelong Art Centre design on Friday. Picture: Alison Wynd

Asked for an update on Geelong’s promised women’s and children’s hospital, Mr Andrews said: “We will have more to say about that quite soon. There’s never been a stronger case for more beds and more services.”

Prior to the 2018 election, the state government committed $100m to the project for design and early construction. The federal government has also committed $50m.

As Geelong waits for the hospital, Mr Andrews said interim pressures on health care could be dealt with by “innovative ways of opening additional capacity and prioritising different patients.”

“(At) Barwon Health, (at) every health service, staff are very tired. It is incredibly important we give them a rest as quickly as we can, not as a statement of shortage but it’s never been more important to keep continuous training and recruitment going.

“Where we definitely need more staff, is in terms of mental health care. We need literally tens of thousands of additional people (statewide).

“The thing about health investment is it never ends; you have to continually refresh, you’ve got to continually invest. The way we deliver care changes.”

Asked if public sector jobs would be cut to keep costs manageable, Mr Andrews said the government was focusing on efficiency.

Premier Dan Andrews and Joel McGuinness, Chief Executive Officer at Geelong Performing Arts Centre overseeing works. Picture: Alison Wynd

“We’re working through individual plans with individual departments and agencies to try and be efficient as we can be.

“A lot of this is through natural attrition. I wouldn’t see that Geelong would be significantly impacted by that. That wouldn’t be my aim. We’ve been all about bringing public service jobs to this city.

“We’ve had to borrow extraordinary amounts to get through Covid. There have to be limits.”

Mr Andrews said he would not mandate set days for Geelong’s public sector workers to return to in-office work.

“What we know from the last time we opened up... the average was three days a week. So we’re confident that there won’t be a need to mandate that.

“We will finish up with people back at their desks, on average, three days a week.

“If people have better balance in their lives that’s good for all of us really.”

Responding to the six-month wait for the men’s behaviour change program, used as a family violence treatment initiative, Mr Andrews said: “This is a symptom of more reporting and more clients needing this sort of behaviour change. Keeping pace with that isn’t easy.”

Premier Dan Andrews

Asked why a drug court hadn’t been established in Geelong to alleviate pressures on the legal system and reduce drug-fuelled recidivism, Mr Andrews said it would be considered.

“We are in constant discussion with the experts. Our track record shows we are prepared to expand (drug courts). If the numbers stack up, and if there’s a demand and pressure there and... if it would make Geelong safer, we will look at that very closely. We are always looking to expand the drug court where ever we need to and that’s why it’s grown in so many different areas.

“This is not a soft approach. It’s smart justice. You don’t go to jail you instead go into a program.”

Mr Andrews said lease terms for Deakin University land where the $174.2m convention centre is due to be built were yet to be reached.

“We will break ground as soon as we can. Deakin is... very, very professional in the way that they engage. They want to get the best value for their future.”

The government has committed to start constructing the city shaping project, expected to include a 1000-seat plenary and 3700m2 of multi-purpose space, by “early 2022.”

DANIEL ANDREWS ON...

Need for more Barwon Health staff:

“(At) Barwon Health, every health service, staff are very tired. It is incredibly important we give them a rest as soon as we can.”

Progression of Geelong convention centre:

“Deakin is... very, very professional in the way that they engage. They want to get the best value for their future.”

Torquay / Jan Juc development (Spring Creek):

“My position remains very clear. We were clear about where the town boundary would be (Duffields Rd) at the last election and our position hasn’t changed.”

Drug court in Geelong:

“We are in constant discussion with the experts... if it would make Geelong safer, we will look at that very closely. We are always looking to expand the drug court where ever we need to and that’s why it’s grown in so many different areas.”

Six-month wait for the men’s behaviour change program (family violence treatment initiative):

“This is a symptom of more reporting and more clients needing this sort of behaviour change. Keeping pace with that isn’t easy.”

Public sector job losses:

“We’re working through individual plans with individual departments and agencies to try and be efficient as we can be. A lot of this is through natural attrition.

“I wouldn’t see that Geelong would be significantly impacted by that. That wouldn’t be my aim.”

Mandatory return to work for public servants:

“What we know from the last time we opened up... the average was three days a week. So we’re confident that there won’t be a need to mandate that.

Re-design of the Geelong Mall

“I’m not here to tell Geelong what the mall should look like. I’d be very keen to have a situation where there was as much feedback, as much input, as possible and then get on and transform the space as we have so many other spaces in Geelong.”

Originally published as Daniel Andrews reveals his post-pandemic vision for Geelong