Victorian Labor pledges $1.5 billion to cut emergency waits
Labor promises $1.5 billion to expand a dozen emergency departments and reduce waits by up to 20 per cent.
Victorian Labor will expand emergency departments at a dozen hospitals and hire 1,500 new health workers if re-elected, part of a $1.5 billion health package launched today. Of the new staff, 750 will be nurses.
The government also plans to open 150 extra hospital beds, with most ready next year. Labor says the emergency expansions will cut waits by up to 20 per cent at five Melbourne hospitals, the Alfred, Austin, and Royal Children's, as well as ten regional hospitals including Bendigo and Ballarat.
The announcement launches Labor's campaign for a fourth term ahead of Victoria's November election. Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has already announced a $1.3 billion plan to reduce surgery waits.
- $1.5 billion
- Health spending pledge
- 1,500
- New health workers
- 750
- New nurses
- 150
- Extra hospital beds
Why it mattersHealthcare is a major election battleground in Victoria, with both major parties spending billions on competing plans.
AustraliaVictorian voters will decide between Labor's emergency-focused plan and the Coalition's push to use private hospitals for public patients.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
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