Nationals candidate Shane Sali spoke at the pledge announcement alongside Coalition MPs Georgie Crozier, Wendy Lovell and Jess Wilson and candidate Steve Brooks.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
A new funding pledge from the Victorian Coalition could make the arduous two-hour journey to Melbourne a thing of the past for cancer patients in Greater Shepparton.
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The Coalition has promised $95 million to deliver stage two of the Goulburn Valley Health Integrated Cancer Centre if elected in November.
The policy was announced on Wednesday, October 7, and would improve cancer care in the region and reduce the need for long-distance travel.
“A cancer diagnosis is challenging enough without Goulburn Valley patients and their families having to travel long distances to access the care they need,” Liberal leader Jess Wilson said.
GV Health is the only regional public health service to not have an integrated cancer centre, requiring many patients to travel to Melbourne or Bendigo, and calls for an upgrade stretch back multiple years.
Nationals candidate for Shepparton Shane Sali said for a region supporting 250,000 people, “that simply isn't good enough”.
Mr Sali said the Nationals were committed to delivering this project, which would address a long-standing healthcare inequity.
“The people of the Shepparton district have made it clear that this project matters,” Mr Sali said.
“Local families, businesses, community leaders and volunteers have backed this vision and advocated for it over many years.
“We have fought for this project because our community deserves it.”
The Federal Government has already committed $30 million for stage one, which begins construction in 2027, and the $95 million pledge would see stage two secured, providing all services on site at GV Health.
Since June, The GV Health Foundation's I Care for Cancer Care fundraising appeal has been working to secure $5 million from the community to demonstrate the need for the project.
The Peter and Maria Copulos Foundation donated $1 million to the appeal and pledged another $1 million for when the Victorian Government provided funding for stage two.
The fully funded project would include:
on-site radiotherapy;
additional haematology and oncology treatment spaces;
dedicated wellness and support centre;
specialist consulting rooms;
research and teaching spaces;
multidisciplinary planning and review space; and
additional car parking.
The state election will be held on Saturday, November 28.
GV Health is the only regional healthcare service without an integrated cancer centre.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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