Better health services

I believe that all Australians should have access to an affordable, quality health care system regardless of whether they live in the city or in regional and rural areas. Our local health system desperately needs more doctors and nurses and there must be a renewed focus on providing more rural and regional training places for doctors and nurses based in Western Victoria.

The aged care sector is in crisis and not only needs more funding but urgent reform. Over 2,000 aged care beds have been lost across the country since the Rudd Government came into office in 2007. This shortage needs to be addressed now.

Locally we also need a regional cancer centre with Medicare funded MRI technology and Radiotherapy services for the South West based in Warrnambool. The community through Peter’s Project has started the push for an integrated cancer centre and, due to the higher mortality rate of cancer cases in rural and regional areas, it is an absolute imperative that Government comes on board and supports it.