Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Marshall for his continued interest in Victorian health care. The Gillard government continues to invest in our hospital system, but there are those who are acting against patient interests. It is time for the Liberal-National Baillieu government to act. In the last budget we committed $100 million in funds for 11 regional priority round projects with the Victorian government: a regional cancer centre in Albury, a dental clinic in Ballarat, a district health centre in Kerang—all vital upgrades and projects for patients. Barwon Health, East Grampians Health Service, Mildura Base Hospital—all are on the list. The Commonwealth also allocated $111 million to Victoria for patient care, including 82 subacute hospital beds. Victoria agreed to all of this funding in February 2012. Now it is November and they still have not signed the agreement, denying and refusing to take more than $200 million— (Time expired)