Daniel Andrews, Matthew Guy spar over Victoria’s health system

As Dan Andrews and Matthew Guy went head-to-head over the state’s embattled health system, Ambulance Victoria had to call a code orange.

On the same night Premier Daniel Andrews and Opposition Leader Matthew Guy faced off on the state of the healthcare system, Ambulance Victoria was forced to call a code orange to bring in extra staff.

A code orange – which is one step below the most serious code red alert level – is called to allow Ambulance Victoria to bring in extra staff to meet demand.

Victorian Ambulance Union general secretary Danny Hill confirmed the code on social media on Wednesday morning, blaming it on rising Covid hospital cases and the number of furloughed health workers – including 105 paramedics.

“AV sent out an SMS looking for six extra paramedics to work overtime which Code Orange allows them to do,” he tweeted.

In May, as Victoria battled a winter Covid wave, Mr Hill told the Herald Sun that Ambulance Victoria was calling a Code Orange two to three times a week.

Daniel Andrews and Matthew Guy shake hands before the debate. Picture: Ian Currie

It comes as more than 25 per cent of voters said they were still undecided after Premier Daniel Andrews and Opposition Leader Matthew Guy faced off in their only one-on-one debate ahead of Saturday’s election.

Victoria’s finances and health system dominated questions from an audience of 100 undecided voters at the Sky News and Herald Sun People’s forum on Tuesday night.

The economic credibility of the government came under attack with Mr Andrews accusing Mr Guy of being a prolific spender.

But Mr Guy vowed to rein in spending and cut Victoria’s debt level in his first term of government.

After the debate a poll of 100 undecided voters in the marginal seat of Box Hill found 38 per cent saying Mr Andrews had won, while 34 per cent backed Mr Guy.

Another 28 per cent were unable to pick a winner.

Victoria’s debt has risen from $22.3bn in 2014-15 to a projected $162.7bn by 2024-25.

“Over the forward estimate period debt will be lower under a government I lead than under a Labor government,” Mr Guy said

“We’ve got more debt in this state of New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania combined. There comes a time where you say we have to be responsible. You can’t just have a credit card where you put everything on and leave it for our great grandchildren to pay off.”

Mr Guy came under attack from the Premier who said Coalition election promises totalled more than $30bn, almost three times more than Labors.

The leaders were also quizzed on integrity in politics, regional Victoria, how they would unite Victorians, and what they would do to boost a CBD recovery. Picture: Ian Currie

Mr Guy came under attack from the Premier who said Coalition election promises totalled more than $30bn. Picture: Ian Currie

Questioned on the cost of the Andrews government’s signature infrastructure project, the Suburban Rail Loop, Mr Andrews said it was vital to Victoria’s growth.

Mr Guy said the cost was excessive and repeated his pledge to stall the project and divert all available state funds to the state’s health system.

When asked about his management of the budget, Premier Daniel Andrews said he had demonstrated his ability to make hard decisions during the pandemic.

“You can do the popular thing, or you can do the right thing,” he said.

“I’m so grateful to Victorians for coming with us and getting through really tough times.

Mr Andrews said he had vivid memories of the Governor of the Reserve Bank telling national cabinet that states needed to borrow to keep the economy afloat.

He said the state’s big infrastructure bill was needed because Melbourne would soon be the biggest city in the nation.

The state of Victoria’s health system was also a key focus for voters, with Mr Andrew repeatedly defending it.

Voters watch on. Picture: Ian Currie

“Surely we could agree and value our nurses and our ambos and just congratulate them for the amazing work they’ve done,” Mr Andrews said.

But Mr Guy dismissed suggestions he was unfairly critical of health workers.

“Daniel, your government has broken the health system. You’ve had eight years, ideas, and I intend to fix the damage you’ve done,” he said.

The leaders were also quizzed on integrity in politics, regional Victoria, how they would unite Victorians, and what they would do to boost a CBD recovery.

The leaders were also asked to outline their plans to tackle climate change with Mr Andrews seizing the opportunity to spruik his government’s plan to revive the State Electricity Commission.

They clashed just once in an argument over fracking.

Senior Liberals hailed the debate a victory for Mr Guy.

“It was a pretty clear win for us I reckon,” a senior official said. “Andrews was argumentative with the audience, Matthew and the host. His arrogance slipped the leash every now and again. Also his spin on fracking was an out and out lie.

“And the SEC as a centrepiece for the opening and closing was a little bizarre. It may appear to have some superficial appeal, bur it has absolutely no saliency as a voting issue our polling reveals.”

“I think this was a marked difference to Matthew who kept his cool, and stuck to his core messages. Very calm and collected.”

The source said the party saw the debate as a win.

“Matthew Guy showed himself to be a safe pair of hands with a plan to fix health which we know resonates,” they said.