Human Services

Health:

  • In 1999/00, Victorian hospitals were set to treat 270,000 more patients than were treated in 1992.
  •  Between 1992 and 1999, the Kennett Government spent almost $1.3 billion on the redevelopment of health facilities across Victoria.
    In 1992, almost 1000 Victorians waited more than 30 days for urgent elective surgery.  In 1999, no Victorian waited more than 30 days for these procedures, and waiting times for semi-urgent elective surgery had been almost halved, despite an unprecedented increase in demand.
  • The Kennett Government in 1999 spent 24 per cent more on health and welfare than was spent in 1991/92 (allowing for inflation).
    The Kennett Government was spending 43% more on hospitals in 1999/2000 than in 1992/93, a rise from $1,892 million to $2,704 million.
    The Kennett Government’s total Health budget over its seven years totalled $26.228 billion. (1992/93 to 1999/2000).
  •  The number of patients being treated in hospital increased by 26 per cent from 1992/93 to 97/98.
  • Independent and audited surveys indicated 97 per cent patient satisfaction with public hospitals.
  • An extra $268 million was provided for acute care funding for public hospitals in 1998, at the time the largest increase in Victoria’s history.
  • In the Kennett Government’s last eighteen months, 3 new hospital facilities were constructed, with an additional four under construction or in the pipeline.
  • The Kennett Government put in more than 1300 extra nurses in the system.

Ambulances:

  • Under Kennett Government, there was a 29 per cent Budget increase for Ambulance services across Victoria with the Government’s contribution increasing by 118%.  This included over 160 new ambulance officers and 35 new vehicles.
  • 90 per cent of all cases were responded to within benchmark requirements.
  • Over its last five years, the Kennett Government’s contribution to statewide ambulance services increased by 147% or $31 million.  This huge injection of funds saw more ambulances on the road, more ambulance stations, and more ambulance officers.  As a result, Victoria’s ambulances transported 60,000 patients than five years previously.
  • The Kennett Government’s contribution to Rural Ambulance Victoria increased from $18 million in 1993/94 to $33 million in 1999.  Rural Ambulance Victoria was in 1999 transporting 13% more patients than in 1993/94 and there had been an 8% increase in the rural ambulance workforce.

Aged Care:

  • The Kennett Government initiated Victoria’s Carer’s Strategy – $100 million over four years to assist carers for physically and mentally disabled persons.

Aboriginal Affairs

  • The Koori Services Improvement Strategy, a 5 year program to ensure sustained and lasting improvement of the health and social well-being of Aboriginal people was implemented on an ongoing basis.
  • Assistance was provided for the ongoing implementation of the ‘Doing Business’ initiative, for growing the Victorian Indigenous Business sector.
    The Victorian Young Aboriginal Achievers Awards was supported, in recognition of the outstanding contribution of young Aboriginal people to their communities.
  • Victoria’s ‘Emerging Indigenous Artists Program’ which allows an Aboriginal artist to produce a unique piece of work in his or her chosen field was established.