State Health Minister David Davis took time out to present the Napthine government’s health agenda to multicultural media in Melbourne this week, saying that under the Liberal’s, more money was being spent on the state’s aged care system.

Mr Davis said the government would provide record funding of nearly $15 billion to hospitals and health services this financial year – $607 million more than the previous year, and $3.6 billion more since coming to office.

The minister of health chose the opportunity to announce new grants to boost CALD seniors’ social participation opportunities – the latest round of a $1.6m program over four years to help isolated seniors in ethnic communities across Victoria.

The Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria has welcomed the scheme, saying it provides support for groups to break down barriers to social inclusion.

But while the focus of the government-organised event was grant promotion, the ‘multicultural media conference’ proved an opportunity for journalists to quiz the minister on more controversial matters.

Defending his government’s record on aged care, Mr Davis told the meeting that under his watch the government had “put more money” into the sector.

“If you look at Swan Hill Hospital, if you look at Croatian aged care – we’ve given land to the Croatian community specifically for that purpose.”

Mr Davis added that “a number of services were closed under Labor. We’re prepared to work hard to make sure we’ve got strong aged care services and that’s what we’re doing”.

The health minister said the funding of 25 aged care beds at Boort Hospital was part of more than $4.5 billion in health infrastructure investment underway across Victoria.

The Napthine government has promised to direct almost $3 million of aged care funding for capital upgrades at ten country residential aged care facilities.

Mr Davis said the government recognised the critical role played by public sector residential aged care services in country communities.

“That is why since coming to government, we have dedicated more than $90 million to support country residential aged care and the health services that deliver it.”

Asked for clarification of the government’s specific figures, a spokesperson for Mr Davis told Neos Kosmos that the Napthine government was committed to supporting residential aged care services “[as] demonstrated by our 2014/15 $17 million Budget funding, an increase on the previous year”.

The spokesman added: “Labor neglected Victoria’s aged care services for 10 years and closed almost 200 beds at aged care facilities in Rosebud, Ballarat, Ballarat North, Caulfield, Wendouree and Frankston.”


Shadow Minister for Seniors and Ageing Jenny Mikakos has hit back at Mr Davis’ claims, saying the minister had “launched an extraordinary attack on public aged care facilities across Victoria”.

“Not only has he listed every bed in Melbourne for privatisation, he stated this won’t happen in regional areas, but allowed the sell-off or closure of seven facilities outside Melbourne,” Ms Mikakos told Neos Kosmos.

“Mr Napthine is intent on privatising aged care – a move we overwhelmingly oppose. The privatisation is already happening in Melbourne, and if he is re-elected, regional Victoria will be next.

“Labor, on the other hand, has a strong record. In government, we redeveloped 48 aged care facilities across Victoria and opened 444 aged care beds.”

Labor says that under the Napthine government, eight state-funded residential aged care facilities have closed in Ballarat, Castlemaine, Koroit, Kyneton, Melbourne (Parkville Hostel), Melton South, Williamstown and Flemington, along with two facilities run by Community Health at Point Lonsdale and Portarlington.

The Opposition has warned that at least six more closures or privatisations are “on the cards”.