Andrews government to spend $12bn on healthcare, hospitals in ’22-23
Despite the state government promising billions of dollars for healthcare in Tuesday’s budget, the opposition says it would be “ripping” money from the sector.
Geelong
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Despite the state government pledging $12 billion for healthcare the state Liberals say it will cut total healthcare expenditure.
Opposition spokeswoman for health Georgie Crozier said total expenditure on healthcare will fall by more than $2bn from $27.06bn in 2021-22 to $25.02 bn in 2022-23.
The Opposition said it had $25.02bn in its health “contingency” in 2022-23.
“Victoria has a healthcare crisis and Labor is ripping $2 billion from our hospitals, aged cared system and mental health services,” Ms Crozier said.
“It’s black and white in the budget, the only person cutting health funding is Daniel Andrews.”
Liberal candidate for South Barwon Andrew Katos said: “The Geelong Women & Children’s Hospital, first promised by Daniel Andrews almost four years ago, still has no starting or completion date.”
Barwon Health chief executive Frances Diver said the $500m women’s and children’s hospital would be built within the Geelong hospital precinct.
“Barwon Women’s and Children’s will support the delivery of integrated healthcare that is family friendly, culturally safe, best practice, safe, high-quality, and accessible,” Ms Diver said.
“The women’s and children’s project will support the modernisation of University Hospital Geelong facilities to meet the needs of the community into the future, and marks a huge leap forward in the future of healthcare in our region.
“This facility will enable Barwon Health to meet growing demands and the changing needs and expectations of the G21 and Barwon South West communities.
“This project complements the other infrastructure initiatives underway to increase access to surgery and provide more comprehensive services, including mental health, the early parenting centre and Torquay Community Hospital.”
Responding to funding for the women’s and children’s hospital, Victorian upper house cross bench MP Stuart Grimley said: “Given this was part of Labor’s 2018 election commitments, I would have thought a plan for financial commitments to the hospital and a Project plan would have been completed.”
Committee for Geelong chief executive Jennifer Cromarty said: “We are disappointed that there was no funding to start planning a much needed new and fit for purpose public transport network, only $2.3M for works related to Revitalising Central Geelong, no funds for activities related to the Central Geelong Framework Plan, the You Yang cultural tourism precinct project, the proposed Geelong Gallery redevelopment, nor for the state-wide regional community leadership programs including the Leaders for Geelong program in 2023.”
G21 - Geelong Region Alliance chief executive Giulia Baggio said the government needed to focus on repairing the tourism and hospitality industries.
“There was scant detail and few clear funding commitments to help tourism operators to get back on their feet,” Ms Baggio said.
“In particular, the severe staff and skills shortages in the industry need to be addressed to revive the G21 region’s hospitality outlook.”
Health, education spending headline state budget
Big spends on health, education and the regional Commonwealth games headline the Andrews’ Government’s 2022-23 budget handed down on Tuesday.
Regional Development Minster Mary Anne Thomas said the government will spend $2.6bn on Commonwealth Games in regional Victoria that will include a hub in Geelong.
The spend will roll out with $36m this financial year, $222.6m in 2022-23, $467.1m in 2023-23, $705.7m in 2024-25, 1.15bn in 2025-26 and $50.53m in 2026-27.
Ms Thomas said the Commonwealth Games was expected to contribute $3bn to Victorian economy.
Budget papers reveal the government’s spend on the Geelong women’s and children’s hospital, to be built on the site of Geelong hospital, could hit $525m — although a delivery timeline is yet to be locked in.
Overall the government will spend $12bn on healthcare and hospitals in 2022-23 and the budget — with the tagline “putting patients first” — will include a pandemic repair plan for “more staff, better hospitals and first-class care.”
To meet that target the government will begin a recruiting drive for 7000 healthcare workers, including 5000 nurses.
It will also have a focus of bringing 2000 health care worker expats back to Victoria.
Under a $1.5bn spend the government will aim to complete 24,000 elective surgeries annually by 2024.
Treasurer Tim Pallas said: “Today I hand down a budget that gives our healthcare workers the extra pair of helping hands they need – so they can give Victorians the very best care. We owe them a great debt. They are our front line. They are the best of us.”
The government said cancer treatment across Geelong, Ballarat and Traralgon would be improved via an $11m spend.
While $12m will be put into mental health and well-being support for children and young people accessing acute care in regional Victoria.
Responding to ballooning ambulance wait times, the government will allocate
$124m to employ 90 paramedics, and get more ambulances on the road.
While $333m will be pumped into the triple-0 call taking service to employ 400 more staff.
The government will also fund 82 more mental health beds statewide, and $130m will be allocated to Victorians with a disability who don’t qualify for the NDIS.
Other Geelong spending in state Labor’s pre-election budget includes:
— $101m for upgrading regional roads including a $16m revamp of the six-way intersection at Forest Rd, Lara; Bellarine Highway at Moolap Station Rd, Moolap; and the intersection of Barwon Heads, Black Rock and Staceys Rds at Connewarre will undergo a $5.3m revamp;
— $111.97m will be spent on the $365m Barwon Heads Rd duplication in 2022-23. The project which is majority funded by the Commonwealth is due to be completed by the end of 2023;
— $148.39m will be spent on the $414m Geelong City Deal in 2022-23 which is funded by all levels of government, and will cover the cost of the projects including the Geelong Convention Centre; and
— $10m to protect coastal ecosystems along the Great Ocean Road which includes $7m for erosion protection.
The Andrews Government will also spend $250 million to buy 12 more V/Line trains, some of which will run through Geelong to Warrnambool.
While $248m will be set aside to improve V/Line and support more reliable trains services. Funding for better bus services in Armstrong Creek and Torqauy will also be set aside, as will $30m for regional tourism.
The government will pledge to spend $779m to recruit 1900 more teachers while upgrades to schools and special schools will again be on the agenda.
Across Victoria 13 new schools will be funded in the budget while upgrades at 65 schools, including 36 special schools, will also be funded.
That will include an upgrade at special schools Hamlyn Views at Hamlyn Heights and Nelson Park at Bell Park.
Premier Daniel Andrews said: “We will have upgraded every special school in our state since coming to office (in 2014) because students with specials needs are entitled to exactly the same opportunities as every other Victorian student.”
The government said its school building and refurbishment program will provide work for 750 people.
The government will also set aside money to acquire land for a new primary school at Charlemont.
Across the state 500 new police and 50 protective services officers will be funded via the 2022-23 budget
The government will also spend $15m to provide death and disability insurance for operational police aged between 55 and 60.
Bellarine MP and Police Minister Lisa Neville said: “We are already delivering thousands of additional police and now we’re continuing that recruitment to ensure we have the necessary resources to keep Victorians safe. Policing is often a dangerous and selfless job and now our longest serving members will be able to access death and disability insurance to provide well-deserved financial security for themselves and their families.”
While $20m will be spent to expand the assessment and referral court across Ballarat, Geelong and Shepparton.
The government will spend $7.8m to support “strong regulation” of Victoria’s gas resources as the state “reduces its reliance on natural gas” and transitions to more sustainable options.
The government will continue to fund the Portarlington to Docklands ferry.
Other budget allocations include $940m for initiatives to improve outcomes for women, $15m for LGBTIQ+ Victorians, $150m to progress treaty negotiations and self-determination, and $85m for an after hours homeless service.
Quoting “ancient Greek” Mr Pallas summarised his eighth budget like this “a society grows great when old people plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.”
“Today’s doubts must not constraint tomorrow’s opportunities,” Mr Pallas said.
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