The Nationals Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, says while people have been enjoying their Christmas/New Year holidays, the Allan Labor government working behind closed doors has begun dismantling the independence of local health services.
Mr Walsh says Premier Allan’s “under the holiday radar” announcement last week of its new local health service networks is the first step to force mergers on regional health services.
He says under the new scheme, Echuca, Rochester, Kerang, Cohuna, Boort and Swan Hill are now all part of the Loddon Mallee Health Network, which will be headquartered in Bendigo. Kyabram has been pushed in to the new Hume network.
“If you don’t think Premier Allan wants to merge our health systems into a centralised model, with all decisions made elsewhere, why the hell would you have Mildura in the same district as Bendigo – they are more than 400km apart for heaven’s sake,” Mr Walsh says.
“That’s so obviously ridiculous to you and me, just as it is ridiculous to assume any of the major health hubs in my electorate will be better off with the big decisions being made in Bendigo, initially, but let’s not kid ourselves, under Labor this control is all moving to Melbourne,” he says.
“Yes, this is merger by stealth, The Nationals raised that alarm more than a year ago and now here it is.
“We should all be on red alert because it is another sign of Labor’s plans to take away local decision making and reduce local services.”
Mr Walsh says by centralising decision-making and merging regional health services with metropolitan or major regional hospitals, Labor is wiping out local jobs and the ability to prioritise the unique needs of regional communities.
He says this heavy-handed approach will see regional voices sidelined, and critical resources funnelled back into the city where, like all those other disappearing billions of dollars in all those failing Big Bill project in Melbourne, they will never be seen again.
“Our regional communities deserve more than being treated like second-class citizens and their local health services stripped of their autonomy, particularly when you see how much all those services have been improved by local donations, local fundraising and local commitment,” Mr Walsh adds.
“Strong, locally managed health services are vital for ensuring timely care and meeting the unique demands of regional Victorians,” he says.
“It’s time for a government that listens to all Victorians and values equitable healthcare outcomes, no matter where you live – Labor is making the health system sicker, not healthier, and regional Victorians will pay the price.”