The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, has criticised the Allan Labor Government for failing to address growing public health wait times, accusing the Minister for Health of attempting to gaslight regional Victorians by minimising serious delays as an “inconvenience.”
Ms Benham said a response from the Minister for Health, Mary-Anne Thomas, to her request for action relied on statewide averages and future plans, rather than acknowledging the real impact on patients.
“Patients waiting for a specialist appointment at Mildura Base Public Hospital are being told, ‘sorry, there is still a long wait, we are way behind,’” Ms Benham said.
“This is not an inconvenience. People’s health is deteriorating while the government sits on its hands and spins the truth.”
Ms Benham said the Minister’s focus on millions of statewide appointments and median wait times is a deliberate attempt to gaslight regional Victorians, ignoring the added barriers caused by distance, limited services, and workforce shortages.
“Regional Victorians are being failed by unacceptable wait times for specialist care, and the government’s inaction is putting lives and wellbeing at serious risk,” she said.
“The Minister for Health must stop the spin and face the reality: people are suffering while Labor hides behind numbers and excuses. Access to healthcare should never be a lottery.
“The public health system is in crisis. Wait times are worsening, emergency targets are being missed, and thousands of Victorians are left in pain and uncertainty.
“Labor can’t manage health, it can’t manage money, and regional Victorians are paying the price.
