Liberal Party formalises preference arrangements putting Labor last on how to vote cards in all seats
Matthew Guy’s Liberal Party will ask Victorians to rank Greens and even far-right or left fringe party candidates ahead of Labor.
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The Liberal Party has formalised preference arrangements that put Labor candidates last in every seat in the state.
The move is aimed at punishing the Andrews government but also means the opposition is effectively asking its supporters to rank far left or far right fringe party candidates ahead of the ALP, once they have voted Liberal or National.
Opposition Leader Matt Guy confirmed that Labor candidates would be put last on how to vote cards, saying “this state needs a fresh start”.
“We have got to move on from a government facing multiple corruption commission investigations,” he said.
“A government that will not prioritise fixing the health system.
“We need to move on from that kind of government and we have to do everything we can to do that.”
Victoria’s voting system is preferential rather than first past the post, meaning those heading to the polling booths have to rank who they would like to see win a seat if their preferred candidate is not successful.
Mr Guy said the party’s push to put Labor last — and therefore parties such as the Greens ahead of their candidates - was announced earlier in the year.
“We have said Labor last for some time, this is not new,” he said.
When asked if there was a danger of putting a candidate above Labor who was a neo-nazi or advocated violence against politicians, Mr Guy said if there were circumstances like that then the party would make arrangements to alter the order.
The move could also help the Greens in seats it is seeking to topple Labor, such as in Albert Park and Richmond.
But Assistant Treasurer Danny Pearson, Labor’s campaign spokesman, attacked the Liberals over the decision.
“Matthew Guy had the opportunity today to show real leadership by putting alleged Neo Nazis, violent extremists and the far right last,” he said.
“Bear in mind, some of these people brought a working gallows on to the steps of state parliament
“There is no place for these people on Spring St.
“Matthew Guy doesn’t just want them on the steps of parliament, he wants them in the chamber.”
Mr Pearson said polls opened on Monday and Mr Guy needed to act now if he planned to make sure the party didn’t preference violent extremists over Labor.
Labor’s free tampon machine pledge
Free pad and tampon machines will be installed in 700 public places if the Andrews government is re-elected.
Premier Daniel Andrews on Saturday announced public hospitals, courts, TAFEs, public libraries, railway stations and cultural sites will have machine to dispense period products for free.
Costing about $23m, about 1500 machines would be installed across 700 sites.
It builds on Labor’s previous policy to install these machines in public schools.
Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins said these products were a necessity and many women were caught out.
“This is such an important step for equality,” she said.
“As a mom to four stepdaughters, I have an array of stories of my girls being caught out in public places and getting that rushed phone call.
“There’s many parents out there that will appreciate this announcement for their young girls to be able to participate in our society in an equal and free way.”
More breast care nurses promised by Libs
Fourteen new specialised breast care nurses will be deployed to the McGrath foundation if Matthew Guy is elected to Premier later this month.
The opposition leader on Friday announced a $6m boost to the respected charity, which has 185 dedicated nurses providing support to families experiencing breast cancer across the country.
The foundation has just 42 nurses based in Victoria.
McGrath Foundation nurse Liz Douglass said the boost in staff was much needed.
Ms Douglass said one in five women are currently not supported by a McGrath care nurse.
“It’s really alarming,” she said.
“It’s just the way it is the moment.
“Having more support and more funding will enable us to have more nurses available to our ladies.”
The highly skilled nurses provide patients and their families with free advice and ongoing support for their physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing from diagnosis and throughout their treatment.
The nurses also provide support to patients in making decisions around returning to work and managing financial pressures and employment responsibilities, including referrals for employment and financial assistance.
Mr Guy said the $6m commitment will support the “invaluable” ongoing work of the McGrath Foundation, which was set up after Jane and Glenn McGrath’s very public experience with breast cancer.
“The McGrath Foundation does an incredible job that makes a real difference to the lives of patients and their families during the toughest of times and we want to ensure that more patients will benefit from this specialised model of care now and into the future,” Mr Guy said.
“Only the Liberals and Nationals have real solutions to end Labor’s health crisis and rebuild Victoria’s health system so that Victorians can get the care they deserve and need.”
Opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier said she was proud to support the McGrath Foundation and help it continue delivering essential support to Victorians at a time they need it most.
“The Andrews Labor government cut $2 billion in health funding in this year’s budget and failed to provide certainty to the McGrath Foundation nursing workforce,” she said.
“The Liberals and Nationals will always support our hard-working nurses at the McGrath Foundation so they can continue to provide vital care to Victorians with breast cancer.”
Ms Douglass said the foundation’s ultimate goal is to have 250 nurses by 2025.
Tougher planning rules for Melb waterways
Tough new planning would be added along 12 key Melbourne waterways if Labor is re-elected in a bid to protect the local environment.
Deputy Premiere Jacinta Allan and Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio on Friday announced new controls would be introduced to stop “inappropriate” development along river and creeks.
The 12 areas to be included are Edgar’s Creek, Darebin Creek, Gardiners Creek, Jacksons Creek, Koonung Creek, Kororoit Creek, Cherry Creek, Merri Creek, Moonee Ponds Creek, Steele Creek, Stony Creek and the Maribyrnong River.
Ms D’Ambrosio said they new planning rules would resemble those introduced by former Minister Richard Wynne along the Yarra River.
“We don’t want to see skyscrapers certainly along the Yarra River,” she said.
“But also we know that in areas, creeks and rivers across Melbourne, in the ones that we’ve listed, we know that there are pressures on waterways.”
Ms D’Ambrosio said there were many local community groups who spent their time protecting and revegetating the state’s rivers and creeks.
She said a new $10m Green Links fund would allow these groups and councils to receive funding for projects
Libs pledge $7k to help women freeze eggs
Victorian women who may need to freeze their eggs would be able to access grants of up to $7000 under a Matthew Guy-led government.
The Coalition on Thursday announced a $21m election commitment to support women who want to go through the process.
Funded over four years, grants of up to $7000 would be provided to women who have a medical condition that may require them to consider freezing their eggs.
It’s expected this could be taken up by about 750 women a year.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said he hoped the scheme would allow women to freeze their eggs without significant financial stress.
“Every victorian women deserves the right to start a family,” he said.
“This is a very important announcement that we believe will give financial security to so many Victorian women who may not be able to avail themselves of the costs of capturing and storing eggs.”
Labor promises $42m for renewable power
Daniel Andrews has unveiled yet another renewable energy commitment, despite admitting he doesn’t have solar installed at his home.
The Premier on Thursday pledged $42 million to install 100 neighbourhood batteries in a move that would help 25,000 homes access local renewable energy, tripling the number of properties with access to a battery.
If re-elected to power, Labor will initially install the batteries in 28 communities across Victoria – 15 in metropolitan Melbourne and 13 in regional Victoria.
Mr Andrews said the government will work with community organisations, local governments and distribution companies to identify the locations for the remaining 72 batteries.
It builds on existing neighbourhood batteries in Fitzroy North and Yackandandah and those currently being built in Tarneit and Phillip Island.
The initial batteries will be located in Ballarat, Bass Coast, Baw Baw, Campaspe, Cardinia, Casey, Darebin, East Gippsland, Greater Bendigo, Greater Dandenong, Greater Shepparton, Hume, Knox, Macedon Ranges, Maribyrnong, Merri-Bek, Mildura, Moira, Monash, Moonee Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Port Phillip Bay, Wangaratta, Wellington, Whittlesea, Wodonga, Wyndham and Yarra Ranges.
Mr Andrews, who has long spruiked the importance of renewable energy, said only Labor is taking real action to fight climate change.
But asked if he had solar installed at his house, Mr Andrews admitted: “No I do not.”
“That’s something that we may well do in the future,” he said.
“If we put solar panels on our home, I would not be accessing the scheme.
“I think I might leave that spot for someone else. There’s some pretty significant workforce shortages here.
“I’m much more focused on the cost of living for households other than my house.
“I don’t know that’s necessarily the leadership that you need to be offering, but anything you can do to help people save on their power bills is critically important.”
Robot plan to halve surgery waitlist
Robots will be deployed to nine hospitals in a move the Liberal Party says will help to halve the state’s elective surgery waitlist.
Opposition leader Matthew Guy on Wednesday pledged a $66m package to increase the use of medical robots in Victoria’s public health system, if he is to become Premier on November 26.
Robotic surgery allows doctors to perform a range of complex procedures with more precision, flexibility and control.
The new technology would be based at hospitals including The Alfred, Box Hill, Sunshine, Northern, Frankston, Bendigo Base and Latrobe regional.
The robots will also be used at the Olivia Newton John and Peter MacCallum cancer centres.
“This is worthwhile technology, it’s worthwhile investment,” Mr Guy said.
Opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier said the technology is already widely used in the private system.
Just two robots are currently used in Victoria’s public health system, and both were funded by philanthropists.
“We want to give greater access to public patients,” she said.
“I have been speaking to surgeons and others who are involved in this really exciting technology.
“I’ve seen how it can work very, very effectively.
“It shortens the length of stay, for some surgeries, from five days to one, so that’s getting patients through the system a lot quicker, so therefore you can treat and care for more patients in the system.
“We think this is the way of the future.”
The election commitment has the backing of Dr Phil Dundee, a consultant urologist at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Frankston hospital.
Dr Dundee, who has been operating robotically for ten years, said the technology had a “clear advantages” for patients, including “substantially less pain postoperatively” and less blood loss.
But Dr Dundee said there is also an advantage for hospitals because it helps to reduce bed stays after surgery, leading to more patients getting the treatment they need.
“Obviously the pressure on hospitals is quite substantial, and the more beds available to patients needing to be operated on is a step in the right direction,” he said.
“Robotic surgery will be the way we operate in the future.
“The only barrier, at this stage, is how we train our surgeons.”
Dr Dundee said, within his discipline, almost all cancer surgery is performed robotically.
For patients who have prostate cancer, open surgery typically leads to a lengthy recovery process, including days spent in hospital.
But after robotic surgery, Dr Dundee said typically patients can go home on day one.
“There are lower complication rates, lower transfusion rates, there’s emerging evidence that there are functional outcomes, such as continence and erectile function is better after robotic surgery in comparison to open surgery,” he said.
But Labor has lashed the Liberals’ robotic plan, with Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas rubbishing suggestions the technology could wipe the waitlist.
Ms Thomas said robotic surgery is only suitable for patients in a limited circumstances – specifically patients who have been assessed through an extensive evaluation framework.
“The only thing Matthew Guy’s Liberals are interested in is finding new ways to cut nurses and doctors from our public hospitals,” she said.
“The last time they were in government, Matthew Guy’s Liberals had a secret plan to sack nurses and went to war with our ambos – now it’s robots over ratios as they try desperately to find a workforce they don’t have to consult.
“You can’t halve the surgery list with nine robots – only Labor has a plan to drive down surgical lists by investing in thousands more staff and transforming two private hospitals into public surgery centres to get Victorians the care they need, from real humans.”
Nurses promised $5k to work in public system
Graduate nurses and midwives who enter Victoria’s public system over the next year will receive a $5000 sign on bonus if the Andrews Government is re-elected.
Premier Daniel Andrews on Wednesday announced a $150m package for the sector and pledged to further improve nurse to patient ratios.
A $5000 sign on bonus is the central part this promise, with the government committing the payment to those who graduate between 2022 and 2024 when they enter the public sector.
Mr Andrews said the money would be a “thank you” for choosing to work in these areas.
“Now is the time to say yes to nursing,” he said.
“Come and work in the hospital system.”
An extra 450 nurses and midwives would be added to the health system under Labor’s commitment.
As part of this 5+36 have promised to increase nurse to patient ratios in intensive care units and other specialist areas.
Midwifery ratios on night shifts would also be boosted.
Apprentice tradies, chefs to get free rego
Tradies and apprentices would have their car registration fees wiped, if Labor is re-elected to government.
Daniel Andrews on Tuesday rolled out a nearly $10m package to make vehicle registration – worth $865 – free for tradespeople and apprentices every year.
Bricklayers, carpenters, joiners, electricians, plumbers and chefs are among the Victorian apprentices expected to be eligible for the scheme, if their employer can verify that the use of their vehicle is an essential part of their work.
Apprentices who rely on their car for work are currently entitled to a 50 per cent discount on their rego that saves them $432 per year.
The Labor leader said tradies deserved a government that backed them.
“Apprentices are the lifeblood of our Big Build – working hard to deliver the road, rail, schools and hospitals Victorians need,” he said.
Mr Andrews has also committed to establishing a parliamentary inquiry to crack down on dodgy bosses and contractors who refuse to pay their subcontractors for completed works.
And an apprenticeships taskforce will also be launched to improve safety and fairness as they begin their careers.
It will report directly to the relevant ministers, with outcomes to be delivered in partnership with unions and industry.
Changes to legislation will also be made if necessary.
Mr Andrews said too often subcontractors are spending hours chasing payments for work they have already completed.
“We know too many tradies are experiencing wage theft or losing too much time chasing late payments for jobs,” he said.
“It’s unacceptable and Labor will do something about it – because only Labor is doing what matters.”
New schools for Melbourne’s booming west
Five new schools would be built across Melbourne’s booming west under a Coalition government.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy will on Tuesday promise to build three primary schools in Williams Landing, Tarneit and Weir Views, one secondary school in Wyndham Vale and one P-12 school in Point Cook South.
The building blitz is expected to cost $190m.
New secondary schools in Werribee and Tarneit funded but yet to be delivered by Labor will also be completed by the Coalition as a “priority”.
These two schools are set to open from 2024.
Mr Guy said he is invested in the future of Victorian children.
“With so many families moving into Melbourne’s west, this is a necessary and important commitment that needs to be done urgently,” he said.
“Our children deserve the very best learning environments and facilities, which just hasn’t happened under the Andrews Labor government’s watch.
“The Liberals and Nationals have real solutions for our growing western suburbs.”
Liberal candidate for Werribee, Mia Shaw, said only the Coalition was committed to providing “modern, world-class education, close to home for Werribee families”.
“It’s vital we invest in our children’s future and by delivering these schools, this is a real solution to ensure students, teachers and families get the support they need to access education locally,” she said.
It is hoped the new state-of-the-art facilities will also be used by local sporting clubs and community groups outside of school hours.
Greens unveil free public transport plan
Public transport would become free for everyone under 21 who opts to use a “climate ticket”.
The Victorian Greens unveiled the new policy on Tuesday, which would also benefit concession card holders and adults.
Under the plan, anyone with a valid concession card could travel on the network for just $1 a day, while adults would be charged $3.
The climate ticket would be available on a monthly, quarterly or yearly basis.
It follows the Coalition’s pledge to cap public transport fares at just $2 a day.
Climate tickets have already been introduced in a number of cities across Europe which has led to people using their cars less, resulting in reduced emissions and fewer traffic jams.
The Victorian Greens said their policy would save a young person nearly $1800 a year.
Meanwhile, adults are set to save $699 each year, while school students and concession card holders would make annual savings of $631 and $532, respectively.
Victorian Greens transport spokesman, Sam Hibbins, said transport is the state’s biggest source of carbon emissions.
“Many young people struggle financially. They may be moving out of home, often working low-paying jobs and facing financial insecurity,” Mr Hibbins said.
“By introducing a Climate Ticket, the Greens will make public transport free for Victorians under 21 and significantly discounted for everyone else, to help lower the cost-of-living and tackle the climate crisis.
“The Greens’ Climate Ticket will be good for the climate and make public transport more affordable.
“People are struggling to keep their head above water because the cost of everything is going up, and wages have flatlined.
“The Greens’ Climate Ticket will help ease cost-of-living pressures by making public transport more affordable.”
Dan rejects ibac questions in fiery presser
Daniel Andrews continued to bat away questions regarding a fourth probe on his government by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission.
It comes as Liberal leader Matthew Guy says anti-corruption hearings should be held in public in a bid to restore probity and integrity in government.
The Premier on Monday refused to elaborate on a statement he issued on Saturday, in which he said he would not comment on active IBAC investigations “regardless of any smear, innuendo or media reporting based on anonymous sources”.
Pressed as to what he was referring to by using the words “smear” and “innuendo”, Mr Andrews repeatedly refused to go into further detail.
“I’m not here to add to that statement. It’s been issued. If I want to add to the statement, I’ll issue a fresh one, and I haven’t,” he said in the fiery press conference.
“Please have a look at my statement. I’ve got absolutely nothing further to add.
“We can sit here all day if you want but I’m not adding to the statement.”
When pressed further, Mr Andrews said: “With the greatest of respect, you’ve asked a question and I’ll determine how to answer that. And I’ve done literally thousands of these (press conferences) and that’s how it works. You ask them and I answer them.”
Asked why he would issue a statement where the “meaning of that statement is not clear”, the Premier fired back: “I don’t think that’s what I’ve done at all. I’ve issued a statement and it’s very clear.”
Mr Andrews also wouldn’t answer if his office had contacted IBAC before an injunction was launched against a media publication.
“My office behaves appropriately,” he said.
“If you want to know what IBAC is doing, you need to ring them.
“I’m not their spokesperson. I’m just not and I’m not going to be commenting on things that may or may not be live, things that may or may not be in the court, things that certainly the government is not a party to.”
The opposition has pledged to boost IBAC’s budget by $20 million, if elected to government on November 26.
Mr Guy was asked if he would commit to facing a public hearing if he was ever asked to give evidence to the anti-corruption commission.
“I don’t intend to be investigated because I intend to run a government which is based around probity and integrity,” he said.
“That’s why we’re going to expand IBAC’s remit, allow those sessions in public and increase their budget by $20 million.
“I think that’s a good start to making sure we have probity and integrity in this state, rather than a government that’s been investigated four times and says that somehow they’re clean.
“They’re not clean. This is a government that stinks, frankly.”
Libs plan to boost home ownership
More than 100,000 extra lots of land across Victoria will be “unlocked” over a two-year period under a Coalition government in a bid to turn renters into homeowners.
Mr Guy said the Coalition’s plan will “slash red tape” and speed up planning processes to deliver his target of 150,000 new housing lots by 2025.
“Having extra lots of land over two years — helping Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, the Latrobe Valley, Bendigo, even smaller towns — means that there is more opportunity for Victorians to buy their first home,” Mr Guy said.
“Victorians deserve to be homeowners, not renting for life.
“Our plan will unlock more land, make it more affordable to enter the market and make owning your own home a reality.”
My Guy said the Labor government had failed to sign off on an adequate number of infrastructure plans — known as precinct structure plans (PSPs) — to guide development of an area over time.
“We’ve got PSPs stuck with the minister for years, years, years and years with no targets,” he said.
“Each time the minister holds up a structure plan, he’s holding up the ability for there to be greater competition in the development industry.
“Competition can only benefit the consumer, those trying to buy a home.
“What we’re saying is we’ll have a target.”
A new “planning flying squad” will also be established by the Coalition, which aims to speed up and simplify the planning approvals process in regional Victoria.
Mr Guy said the Victorian Planning Authority had a “long list” of areas across the state which were ready to be signed off, having passed the relevant approvals.
But he brushed off criticism from planning academics who have said more should be done to densify middle suburbs, instead of carving up vacant land in outer suburbs.
“You can’t just say we want everyone to live in one style of housing,” Mr Guy said.
“That’s not how cities of 5 million people work.”
The Coalition on Sunday also pledged to scrap stamp duty on homes worth $1m or less from January 1, saving Victorians up to $55,000 on the purchase of their first home.
If elected, Mr Guy said state parliament would sit in December to enable him to legislate his stamp duty reform before the new year.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do, should we win this election, and that will require parliament to sit before Christmas,” he said on Monday.
Baby Bundle pledge in shaky Northcote seat
The Labor campaign on Monday rolled into the ultra marginal seat of Northcote, which is at risk of falling to the Greens.
Mr Andrews joined local member Kat Theophanous to unveil a $69 million Baby Bundle for new parents.
It will include more access to free maternal and child health services, new early parenting centres and targeted support for multicultural and Indigenous communities.
Free maternal health consultations will increase to eight hours’ worth of appointments, while lactation consultations will also be offered.
Mr Andrews said the package will make sure new parents are better supported during pregnancy and once a new baby comes home.
“Every family is different, but what is universal is how a new baby will completely change your life,” he said.
One of the new early parenting centres will be built in Northcote, which is one of the key seats being eyed off by the Greens.
“We take nothing for granted. We work everyday in every seat,” he said, when asked if the party was nervous about losing Northcote.
Mr Andrews completely ruled out forming a minority government with the Greens if Labor doesn’t secure enough seats on November 26.
“No deal will be offered and no deal will be done,” he said.
“This is the most progressive government in our nation so if progressive issues are important to you, and a local champion who gets things done is important to you, and you’re in Northcote, Kat Theophanous is the person to vote for.”
The Labor Party in the ACT formed a minority government with the Greens following the 2020 vote, but Mr Andrews said circumstances in Victoria were very different.
“We’re a long way from the ACT, with the greatest of respect to our Canberra friends,” he added.
Plan to overhaul Victoria’s bus network
Victoria’s bus network would be overhauled with new and improved routes under a $160m Coalition election pledge.
Mr Guy on Friday announced the plan, to be delivered over four years if the Liberals and Nationals form government.
Bus networks would be increased across the state, particularly in built up areas, with 45 extra routes to be considered and 20 existing routes under review for extension.
Extra services on existing routes would also be considered to support patronage.
“Melbourne has one of the largest metropolitan rail networks in the world,” Mr Guy said.
“It has the largest metropolitan tram network.
“But what we do need at metropolitan Melbourne is a greater number of extended bus routes to complement our train and tram networks.
“We also need additional services for our country and regional areas.”
Mr Guy said getting people on to buses was a vital part of the Liberals and Nationals public transport solution.
“Places like the City of Manningham where I’m from, don’t have any trams or trains and in the outer suburbs of Melbourne, and regional Victoria in particular, the same exists” he said.
“We need to invest in our bus networks.
“This announcement of ours is modest, responsible and sensible (and) it can be achieved in our first term.”
Mr Guy said additional bus services on existing routes would be assessed alongside new ones, in particular in growth areas such as Melbourne’s west and southeast.
“That’s where we do have public transport deserts,” he said.
“While structure plans throughout Melbourne have for 20-odd years now been designed around each home being just a couple of hundred metres from a bus route, it doesn’t necessarily mean the bus comes frequently.
“The second stage of this announcement is around reviewing some of those routes to make sure that they are actually operating efficiently.”
Coalition public transport spokesman Danny O’Brien said the policy would be complemented by existing plans to cut most public transport fares to $2 a day and to halve V/Line fares.
“These are the additional services that people need to get them to and from work, to school, to our family and to medical appointments,” he said.
$500 vouchers on offer in Coalition’s dental plan
Matthew Guy will offer $500 vouchers to more than 30,000 Victorians in a bid to half the state’s dental waiting list.
The Coalition will also inject $50m a year into what Mr Guy described as Victoria’s neglected dental system as part of a plan to overhaul the health sector.
Latest figures show 64,000 Victorians are currently on a two-year waiting list for dental treatment.
Mr Guy said the vouchers, which could only be used for dental care, would allow the most urgent cases to fund going to a private clinic for treatment.
“That will then subsidise or pay for the work that may get done,” he said.
“It will be a contribution to that work, either it will pay the lot, or it will be something to contribute to that work.
“But we need to do something, and something’s better than nothing.
“We’ve got to do something to get people off the dental waiting list. This is a plan to do that. It is a start, and halving this list is better than what the government’s doing.”
The announcement came a day after Mr Guy promised to save Victorian households up to $100 a year off water bills.
He described both announcements as “modest but realistic” and said Victorians could expect similar modest announcements in the coming weeks.
“We’re gonna make a difference but we are going to make it modest and realistic,” he said.
“I’m not going to make commitments that are unbelievable but can’t be achieved.
“I think what Victorians want from an alternative government is knowing that when we come to government, should we have the honour of doing so, we can achieve what we’ve said we do”
“We’re not leading people on with false promises.”
Mr Guy said the Coalition would provide the $500 dental vouchers to 32,000 Victorians to halve the dental waitlist within two years.
He will also inject $200m into the system over four years, using money saved from his decision to shelve the Suburban Rail Loop.
The Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch welcomed the announcement, saying waiting lists had blown out to unacceptable levels.
ADAVB president Warren Shnider said successive lockdowns had prevented people from seeing the dentist and contributed to the waiting list surge.
“Waiting times to access public dental care have surged from 20.3 months in 2018 to 26.7 months in June this year,” he said.
“These clinically unacceptable waiting times have a significant impact on the oral health of patients, which in turn compromises their general health.”
The dental plan announcement was one of several made by the Coalition on Thursday morning including providing $22m to the Beaufort and Skipton Health Service.
A commitment was also made to move the Opening Ceremony of Victoria’s 2026 regional Commonwealth Games from the MCG to Geelong.
Shadow Minister for Sport, Cindy McLeish, said the Games would be only regional if both the Opening and Closing ceremonies were held in Victoria.
“Instead of launching the regional games in our capital city, let’s take this chance to put Geelong and all it has to offer on the world stage,” Ms McLeish said.
“There is no better choice to kick off regional Victoria’s Commonwealth Games than in the largest stadium outside of Melbourne.”
PET scanner pledge for hospitals
Eight new PET scanners will be deployed to Victorian hospitals under a $44 million election commitment from Labor.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans are imaging tests used to find and monitor the spread of cancers, diagnose heart disease, brain disorders and other conditions.
Unlike some scans that only provide a picture of the body’s structure, a PET scan probes cellular changes to see how the body is working.
They can detect changes in organs and tissues earlier than traditional CT or MRI scans.
The vital equipment will be located at Ballarat Base Hospital, Goulburn Valley Health in Shepparton, Sunshine Hospital, the Northern in Epping, Werribee Mercy Hospital, Warrnambool Base Hospital, Frankston Hospital and Wangaratta Base Hospital.
PET scans are already available for patients at a number of major metropolitan and regional hospitals.
But Labor leader Daniel Andrews said the scanners are not currently as widely available as they should be.
Mr Andrews said his late father had to travel out of his own region for scans during his health battle.
“Having access to a PET scanner close to home makes a massive difference to patients and their families,” he said.
“It means answers, and critically, earlier access to lifesaving care.
“Only Labor is doing what matters and delivering more diagnostic equipment for sick Victorians and recruiting and training more than 24,000 health workers.”
The scanners will be progressively rolled out over a four-year term.
There is no local manufacturer, meaning they will need to be imported from overseas.
Promise of cheaper V/Line fares
Commuters who travel on the state’s regional rail network are being promised cheaper fares and almost 200 extra weekend services, if the Andrews government is re-elected this month.
Under the $1bn package, the government will cap the cost of a daily ticket on the network at $9.20 for a full fare or $4.60 for a concession – the same price as a metro daily fare.
Regional commuters who use a Myki Pass will also be capped at the Melbourne rate, currently $5.52 per day.
A V/Line ticket from Melbourne to Geelong and back currently costs up to $27.60, while a return trip from Melbourne to Bendigo costs up to $68.80.
Premier Daniel Andrews said this announcement was about “fairness”.
“It’s about making sure that regional Victorians get a fair go and that starts with a very different fare structure,” he said.
Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll said “no longer will there be too separate classes of passengers”.
“For the first time ever, we’re putting regional Victorian passengers and commuters on parity with metropolitan Melbourne,” he said.
More than 20 VLocity trains will also be manufactured under the package, with the trains to replace the ageing V/Line fleet in 2024.
The Premier visited Alstom in Ballarat on Wednesday, where the trains are expected to be maintained.
The capped fares will come into effect from March, with the extra services to be rolled out progressively.
The Premier said cheaper fares would help regional families balance their weekly budgets.
“It stacks up and it will deliver for every single family and business right across regional Victoria,” he said.
Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan said this plan was also about making the state “Commonwealth Games ready”.
“Tens of thousands of people will travel to Ballarat, Bendigo, Gippsland … to experience the Games,” she said.
“We want many of them to travel on public transport.”
The Coalition in mid-October pledged that, if elected, it would halve V/Line fares across the state, two days after announcing $2 flat rate fares for metropolitan Melbourne.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said the Coalition’s plan would “allow households to put those savings into what really matters”.
“By reining in Daniel Andrews’ record debt, the Liberals and Nationals will slash travel costs and reward hardworking families across the state,” he said at the time.
Currently, regional fares are calculated by the distance travelled.
By capping the cost of a daily ticket at $9.20, most regional commuters are expected to save more money under Labor’s plan.
However, the Premier would not say whether the Labor government has any plans to cut flat rate fares for metropolitan Melbourne.
Mr Carroll said Mr Guy’s costings for the pledge to cap metropolitan fares at $2 did not “stack up”, with the Department of Transport on Wednesday warning Mr Guy’s $1.3bn plan was about $1bn too conservative.
Mr Carroll added that the Liberals’ plan would trigger “chaos” and overcrowding, as commuters ditch regional services for the cheaper metropolitan trains.
“Regional Victorians (will drive) to metropolitan stations to get on the train to qualify for the $2,” he said.
Shadow Treasurer David Davis said Labor was “mimicking” the Coalition’s plan for cheaper public transport across Victoria.
“After weeks of talking down the Liberals and Nationals’ plan for cheaper public transport across Victoria, Labor has kicked off their campaign by copying it,” he said.
“Daniel Andrews has had eight years to introduce cheaper country fares but has chosen not to do so.”
He added that under Labor’s plan almost 6 million Victorians would continue paying up to $9.20 a day for public transport in Melbourne, instead of $2.
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