Labor promises health funding boost at election campaign launch

A RE-ELECTED Andrews Government would deliver a boost in nursing numbers, build 10 community hospitals and fund 500,000 extra regional specialist appointments, Premier Daniel Andrews has announced at the party’s campaign launch.

LABOR has fallen back on its health strong suit announcing a re-elected Andrews Government would deliver a boost in nursing numbers, build 10 community hospitals and fund 500,000 extra regional specialist appointments.

To thunderous applause at today’s election campaign launch, Premier Daniel Andrews said the promised $1.3 billion funding splurge would deliver the “biggest shake-up” to Victoria’s health care system.

He said Labor would fund 1100 nurses, which would mean an extra nurse on the night shift at all major public hospitals.

GUY REVEALS HIS VISION FOR VICTORIA

DANIEL ANDREWS EXCLUSIVE ELECTION INTERVIEW

LABOR VOWS TO BOOST RAIL CARPARKS IN WEST

While he said 10 community hospitals would allow patients to “get the care they needed in the community they live in.” And regional specialist appointments would allow country patients, like his father who died of cancer two years ago, to avoid trips into the city to get access to the healthcare they need.

Premier Daniel Andrews at the Labor Party's campaign launch. AAP Image/Ellen Smith

To the tunes of You're the Voice and the Eagles Daddy Cool about 400 of Labor’s party faithful gathered at Monash University for the party’s 2018 campaign launch, with 27 days until the November 24 poll.

Labor’s army of red shirt-clad campaigner furiously waved placards as they listened to speeches from Mr Andrews and federal opposition leader Bill Shorten.

Labor luminaries and former premiers Steve Bracks and John Cain were among the party faithful listening to the leaders speeches at the Alexander Theatre — opposite the Robert Menzies building.

Singing to Labor’s choir Mr Andrews told the audience his government had delivered for its Victoria but there was more work to do.

“Earlier this week I made a promise that will change our state and change lives, the nation’s first Royal Commission into mental health,” he said.

“Only from laying bare our failings can we fix them.”

Mr Andrews said his infrastructure agenda had delivered “cranes in the sky and shovels in the ground” and put boom gates in the bin.

His wife Cath Andrews revealed her trip to hospital while in labour with her third child Joseph was delayed by the Centre Rd level crossing — one of 29 removed since 2014.

“That’s my Labor, labour story,” Ms Andrews said as she introduced her husband to the stage with their children Noah, Joseph and Grace.

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten applauds Mr Andrews. AAP Image/Ellen Smith

Mr Andrews entered and left to Jimmy Barnes “there ain’t no second prize”.

To ramp up the crowd federal opposition leader Bill Shorten says if Australia was to win in Asia and succeed in the world “we need to take the Victorian vision and make Australia the education nation.”

He said “Dan” had done a great job of removing 29 level crossings and would deliver the “holy grail” of Melbourne’s public transport network — the $50 billion suburban rail loop. He said the choice between Labor and the Coalition was stark.

“It is a choice between the Liberal Party who wants to send the state to the back of the nation’s pack. Or a choice to elect a party and its leader leading the nation,” Mr Shorten said.

He managed a swipe at his federal rivals and said the Victorian Coalition’s slogan “Get Back in Control” was a good message for its colleagues in Canberra.

“I wondered if they were trying to send a message to their mates in Canberra,” he said.

“Maybe they thought if they project Get Back in Control onto the Opera House Scott Morrison, Peter Dutton and the rest of them will take the hint.

“They will need a bigger billboard.”

While family violence campaigner Rosie Batty said Victoria’s $1.2 billion commitment to Family Violence funded had made all other states contribution pale into insignificance.

Ms Batty said she met with Mr Andrews shortly after her son Luke was murdered by his father in 2013.

She said the system had failed Luke, her and her dad.

“I can’t bring him back but I can see that we are changing and have changed.”