Thursday, 18 April 2019

The Andrews Labor Government is standing up for Eastern Health patients who are being hit hard by Canberra’s cuts to Victoria’s hospitals.

Canberra has clawed back $305 million from Victoria’s hospitals – cuts that are hurting patients, nurses and doctors across the state.

Locally, Canberra’s $23,531,780 cut to Eastern Health will hit locals hard. It’s the equivalent of 45,755 dialysis sessions, 21,190 chemotherapy treatments or 1,424 hip replacements.

That’s why the Labor Government has launched a new campaign for a fair share of funding from the Commonwealth – no matter who wins next month’s Federal Election.

The Our Fair Share campaign is running across TV, radio, print and online.

Canberra is also proposing a dud national funding deal that would see public schools get less funding than private schools, with government schools short-changed $500 million in funding every single year.

That’s the equivalent of 1,250 full-time teachers that can’t be funded simply because Canberra want to boost the bottom line.

The Labor Government has invested more in Victoria’s schools and hospitals than any government in Victoria’s history – to ensure every child has the best education and every Victorian has access to world-class healthcare.

As the Federal Election gets closer, now is the time for Victoria to fight for its fair share.

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing:

“Canberra’s cuts have hit Eastern Health hard – and local patients, nurses and doctors deserve better.”

“We’re fighting to make sure Eastern Victoria gets its fair share of Commonwealth funding for local patients and local kids.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos:

“We’re the fastest growing state in the country – our hospitals can’t survive more cuts from Canberra.”

“We’re giving our nurses and doctors what they need to provide the very best care for all Victorians. Imagine how much more we could do if we got a fair deal from Canberra.”