The Allan Labor Government is focused on patients, not politics – injecting more money into our health system than ever before.
Today’s media reporting about health funding – pushed along by the Shadow Health Minister Georgie Crozier – is categorically false.
Ms Crozier’s conflation between hospital funding and our health services plan is also misleading – these are not related and there is no secret plan.
In the 2024/25 financial year alone, more than 25 per cent of the state’s entire budget will be invested into our health services, with a total of $20 billion in operational funding to be delivered to our hospitals.
The Victorian Budget 2024/25 is delivering a new multi-year investment, with an extra $8.8 billion to ensure health services can continue delivering world-class care.
This will mean in the next financial year alone our health services will share in an additional investment of $1.5 billion for 2023/24 and more than $1.8 billion in 2024/25.
In true Liberal National fashion, the ongoing spread of misinformation and lies about hospital funding has some communities concerned – but these lies could not be further from the truth.
There is a sector-wide increase in funding budget-to-budget from last financial year, including a significant lift in the price paid to deliver care.
This approach is in response to requests from hospitals for increased funding and budget certainty to better meet changing healthcare needs, as well as funding that reflects their activity levels.
It is an important reset that aims to provide greater sustainability and transitions away from the previous model during COVID, where health services were paid for activity that was not being delivered.
This new funding will ensure services can plan further in advance using available resources to achieve the best outcomes for all Victorians.
All health services have been asked to work with the Department of Health to ensure government funding is focused on frontline care.
Minister Thomas was in Adelaide today joining state and territory ministers who called on the Federal Government to bring a renewed focus on increasing their contributions to our hospitals.
As stated by Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas
“While others are playing politics, we are focused on delivering patients the best care and that is exactly what our record investment into our hospitals will deliver.”
“Unlike the Liberals and Nations who closed 12 country hospitals – we’re focusing on delivering more doctors and nurses, better facilities and the best possible care to all Victorians no matter where they live.”
