Opinion

O’Keeffe slams Victorian Government’s community health cuts

By Max Stainkamph

Apr 19, 2023

Concern: State Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe at parliament.

State Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe has slammed the Victorian Government’s decision to slash 15 per cent of funding from critical community preventative health programs.

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Community health groups across the state were warned last week to brace for funding cuts, which Premier Daniel Andrews defended as removing “double-ups” and inefficiencies.

The groups that would lose funding — mostly preventative services targeted at reducing obesity and vaping — condemned the move.

Ms O’Keeffe said she was “appalled” to hear millions of dollars would be slashed from the health sector.

“The cuts are reckless given Victoria’s current health crisis, with hospital surgery wait-lists continuing to spiral out of control, as well as the blowout in demand for beds,” Ms O’Keeffe said.

“These centres are actually reducing the pressure on our hospitals and our GPs are providing a much-needed critical healthcare service to our communities.

“I call on the Andrews Labor Government to not cripple our critical healthcare community health services.”

Ms O’Keeffe said she wondered what other programs would come “under threat”.

“In the past eight years Daniel Andrews has wasted more than $1 billion on external consultants and mismanaged projects, which has resulted in a $30.7 billion budget blowout,” she said.