Tuesday, 8 September 2026

 Joe McCRACKEN (Western Victoria) (12:42): (1467) My question is to the Minister for Health, and it relates to the Ballarat Base Hospital. Last Thursday doctors walked off the job in protected industrial action. Issues raised include long emergency department wait times, physical safety, bed block and staff burnout caused by stress and fatigue. Dr Caitlyn Conway, who is a doctor at the Ballarat Base Hospital, said:

Shifts are so long, you’re exhausted, you make mistakes and it’s not safe for us and not safe for patients.

Minister, last week I raised concerns from a former nurse who worked at Ballarat Base Hospital. This week doctors are raising concerns about safety and conditions at the hospital. Minister, why won’t you investigate the situation at Ballarat Base Hospital?

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ambulance Services, Special Minister of State) (12:43): There was a little bit in that question, including relating to bargaining that is happening in the health system at the moment for our incredible doctors, and I want to acknowledge the work that they do each and every day. Our government will always respect their right to collectively bargain, and protected industrial action is something they are entitled to participate in as they see fit.

I want to also indicate that since coming into the portfolio I have had the opportunity to meet with AMA and ASMOF to understand their concerns firsthand. I would describe that as a constructive conversation. Negotiations are continuing in good faith to reach agreement on some pretty important matters that our doctors are bargaining around. In relation to Ballarat Base Hospital, I want to acknowledge all of the staff that work in that service. It is a very important, major regional hospital, which is becoming busier and busier, and that is acknowledged. I have had the opportunity since the last sitting week to talk with my department about some of the pressures that have been reported to me directly from some of the staff at the Ballarat Base Hospital, and my department is working closely with that health service on the challenges that have been raised. I want to also acknowledge the individual workers who have written to me. I have taken on board their feedback carefully.

Joe McCracken: On a point of order, President, with the greatest respect, my question was, ‘Why won’t you investigate the situation at Ballarat Base Hospital?’ and you have not even used the word ‘investigate’. Why?

The PRESIDENT: The minister was relevant to the question.

Ingrid STITT: I think you are kind of lost in the moment there, with respect, because I have just been talking about how since these issues have been raised, not only in the chamber but also by individual health workers in that service who have written to me, I have raised these matters with my department, and my department is working closely with Ballarat Base Hospital on these issues. That is the appropriate way in which these matters ought to be followed up. I also acknowledge that there is bargaining going on across the system, not just at Ballarat but obviously across our health system, and the issues that are being raised through the bargaining are important. The government is taking those matters seriously, and the negotiations are continuing in good faith. We all want to reach a fair deal here that acknowledges the incredible work and the hours that our doctors and health workers put in to provide world-class care to Victorians accessing these services.

 Joe McCRACKEN (Western Victoria) (12:46): Minister, Dr Rob Roscioli, who works in an emergency department, said last week:

If you have unhealthy doctors you have unhealthy patients and an unhealthy health service …

Dr Yates, a former AMA president, said:

… the government doesn’t care about doctors. I think deep in their hearts they think … there’s nowhere for these … doctors to go so we can treat them like rubbish, we can disrespect them.

Minister, doctors and nurses are all saying the same thing: conditions at Ballarat Base are at breaking point. If you will not even investigate, what are they actually supposed to do? Where do they go? They cannot go to you. We raise legitimate questions, and you brush them aside. Where are they supposed to go?

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ambulance Services, Special Minister of State) (12:47): That was more performative than actually based on any facts. It also asserts a number of things that are incorrect. I absolutely, categorically reject the suggestion that our government does anything other than back our health workers in. Those opposite might take a different approach to industrial relations to us –

Joe McCracken: On a point of order, President, I do not appreciate being verballed, but secondly, my question was: where are these doctors – people that are concerned – supposed to go? You have not gone anywhere near that.

The PRESIDENT: The minister was relevant to the question.

Ingrid STITT: I am not sure what Mr McCracken is referring to in that statement. There are negotiations going on right now. We are taking very seriously the concerns that doctors are raising through their representatives at the bargaining table, and I am not going to cut across those negotiations in question time. Those negotiations are continuing in good faith, and we are listening carefully to the concerns that are being raised.