Valid as of 03/11/2022
PHAA VIC, the AHPA and AEA are non-partisan, non-governmental organisations. This scorecard reports on the alignment of each major party’s policies with the Vote For Public Health Victorian State Election Campaign six key priorities.
A survey was sent to the three major parties (ALP, Liberal National Coalition, and Greens). We received written responses from the Greens. As we did not receive responses from Labor or the Coalition, our scoring was based on our review of the parties’ election platforms.
If any party or reader believes that the alliance has misrepresented a party’s position, please contact phaa.vic@gmail.com
2022 VIC Election Scorecard
This scorecard was developed on the basis that announced policies will be acted upon and appropriately funded.
Key:
Party policies align with PHAA/AHPA/AEA election priority.
Party policies partially align with PHAA/AHPA/AEA election priority.
Party either has policies that conflict with the PHAA/AHPA/AEA election priority, or, to our knowledge, has no policy position on the election priority.
On their election platform, Labor have no specific commitments made towards preventive health funding. The only funding commitments appear to be directed towards acute care, infrastructure and workforce.
Additionally, a word search conducted in the two web pages below did not reveal anything about “prevention”, “preventive health” or “preventative health” related to this current election.
Sources:
- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-29/victoria-state-election-pledges-platforms-labor-liberal-greens/101332956
- https://www.danandrews.com.au/health
On their election platform, the Coalition have no specific commitments made towards preventive health funding.
Some commitments may be made to increase funding for specific issues, which may be considered preventive health, although this is unclear. These commitments include:
- Increased enforcement and information campaigns to drive down the number of children using e-cigarettes
- Building a new infectious diseases response centre
- This will deliver up to $400 million to:
- Fund the delivery of up to 100 new negative pressure beds to be deployed across the state – including 50 permanent beds at the new infectious disease response centre;
- Train an additional 300 specialist nurses to be able to deliver care;
- Fund the co-location of non-COVID-19 infectious diseases at the new facility and;
- Establish an advisory panel made up of experts to direct on the best location, scale and format for the centre.
Sources:
- https://www.matthewguy.com.au/policies
- Real solutions for all Victorians. (matthewguy.com.au)
- https://www.matthewguy.com.au/media-releases/2021-11-22-a-new-infectious-disease-response-centre-to-keep-victorians-healthy-and-safe
- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-29/victoria-state-election-pledges-platforms-labor-liberal-greens/101332956
The Greens on their election platform state that they will provide support in principle and there is no specific action or funding level that has been committed to (e.g., 5%).
In their response to the PHAA/AHPA/AEA, the Greens also state that:
“While the Greens are pleased to see the unprecedented recent focus on the Victorian healthcare system, we are concerned that politically motivated health announcements may be being prioritised over some more effective investments. Therefore, the Greens strongly support a minimum government threshold for investment on preventative health, that is long proven to deliver substantial long-term health benefits.
Our support is contingent on the development of a clear framework for defining what health investments are classified as “preventative health”, as well as clarification over the calculation of “total government health expenditure”.
Source: Email correspondence with Office of Dr Tim Read, received 14 October 2022.
On their election platform, Labor has no specific commitments towards Local Public Health Units.
Additionally, a word search conducted in the two web pages below did not reveal anything about “local public health unit(s)” or “LPHU(s)” related to this current election.
Sources:
- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-29/victoria-state-election-pledges-platforms-labor-liberal-greens/101332956
- https://www.danandrews.com.au/health
On their election platform, the Coalition have not made any specific commitments made towards a minimum five-year funding for Local Public Health Units to deliver local health promotion, protection and prevention activities.
In their letter to PHAA and AHPA the Greens have stated that they will provide support in principle as follows:
“The Greens support long-term grant and program funding across all government portfolios. We recognise long-term funding improves, amongst other things, better planning and strategy, staff retention and service outcomes.
The introduction of LPHUs was a positive development from Victoria’s pandemic response. The Greens support in principle the expansion of the LPHUs to provide more placed-based health services to more Victorian communities subject to a detailed and costed business case.”
Source: email correspondence with Office of Dr Tim Read, received October 14 2022
Develop a Victorian Public Health Officer (PHO) training program
Scorecard explained
On their election platform, Labor have made no specific commitments made towards developing a Victorian Public Health Officer Training Program. The only funding committed appears to be directed towards training more professionals for the acute health workforce.
Additionally, a word search conducted in the web pages below did not reveal anything about “public health” “training” related to this current election.
Sources:
- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-29/victoria-state-election-pledges-platforms-labor-liberal-greens/101332956
- https://www.danandrews.com.au/health
On their election platform, the Coalition have not made any specific commitments made towards developing a Victorian Public Health Officer Training Program.
In their letter to PHAA and AHPA the Greens have stated that they will provide support in principle as follows:
“The Greens recognise that public health is still neglected in Victoria, with a significant lack of public health professionals working in the Department of Health. The Greens support establishing a three-year training scheme to assess, train and place at least 10 medically and non-medically trained staff subject to a detailed and costed business case.”
However, no specific funding commitment has been made.
Source: email correspondence with Office of Dr Tim Read, received October 14 2022
Invest 5% of total mental health expenditure on prevention by 2030
Scorecard explained
On their election platform, Labor have not made any specific commitments towards investing in 5% of total government mental health expenditure on prevention.
Most of their funding commitments appear to be directed towards acute mental health services with the exception of these two commitments, which may be related to mental health prevention:
- Establish a new State-wide Trauma Service, as part of its response to the mental health royal commission
- Increased mental health support for Victorian students
Additionally, a word search conducted on the two web pages below did not reveal anything about “mental health” related to this current election.
Source:
- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-29/victoria-state-election-pledges-platforms-labor-liberal-greens/101332956
- https://www.danandrews.com.au/health
On their election platform, the Liberal-led Coalition have not made any specific commitments towards investing in 5% of total government mental health expenditure on prevention.
There are some commitments made to increase funding for specific issues, which may be considered under the mental health remit, although this is unclear. These are as follows:·
- Strategy to boost mental health workforce
- Financial support to attain an undergraduate mental health qualification
- Financial support for tertiary qualified Victorians to enter our mental health workforce through a post-graduate qualification
In their letter to PHAA and AHPA, the Greens have stated that they will provide support in principle as follows:
“The Greens recognise that prevention mental health of mental health conditions is frequently overlooked in the broader focus on mental wellbeing. We would like to see a greater focus on prevention across the entire health system.
Once again we would require such a commitment to be accompanied by clear definitions. We note that our public housing commitment to build 200,000 new homes, represents an unprecedented investment towards prevention.”
However, no specific funding commitment (e.g., 5%) has been made.
Source: email correspondence with Office of Dr Tim Read, received October 14 2022
On their election platform, Labor have not made any specific commitments towards supporting Victoria’s Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.
Additionally, a word search conducted in the two web pages below did not reveal anything about “Aboriginal,” “First Nation*,” “VACCHO” “(Victoria*,) Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation*” related to this current election.
Source:
- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-29/victoria-state-election-pledges-platforms-labor-liberal-greens/101332956
- https://www.danandrews.com.au/health
On their election platform, the Coalition have made no specific commitments towards supporting Victoria’s Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.
Source: Real Solutions for all Victorians (realsolutionsvic.com.au)
In their letter to PHAA and AHPA, the Greens state that they have a policy (policies) to support Victoria’s Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations as follows:
“The Greens are passionate about self-determination for First Nations People. We have been strong advocates for treaty for many years and will continue to fight for an inclusive, equitable and just treaty process. We are joining the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria in calling for a substantial Self-Determination Fund that ensures traditional owner groups are on a level playing field with the government in treaty negotiations. We fully support self-determination of ACCOs including VACCHO.”
Source: email correspondence with Office of Dr Tim Read, received October 14 2022
Establish a state-based Victorian Sustainability Health Unit
Scorecard explained
In their election platform, Labor have not made any specific commitments towards establishing a state-based Victorian Sustainability Health Unit.
Additionally, a word search conducted on the two web pages below did not reveal anything about “sustainability*” “unit*” “health unit*” related to this current election.
Sources:
- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-29/victoria-state-election-pledges-platforms-labor-liberal-greens/101332956
- https://www.danandrews.com.au/health
On their election platform, the Coalition have not made any specific commitments towards establishing a state-based Victorian Sustainability Health Unit.
In their letter to PHAA and AHPA, the Greens state that they commit to the establishment of a state-based Victorian Sustainability Health Unit as follows:
“The Greens Election Platform includes a plan to create a sustainable Healthcare Unit in the Department of Health to tackle hospital waste, cut healthcare emissions, review use-by dates and promote reusable healthcare items.
Additionally, we have announced commitments to develop a roadmap to transition hospitals off gas, to cheaper, efficient 100% renewable electricity by 2030 and ban desflurane use by 2024.”
Source: email correspondence with Office of Dr Tim Read, received October 14 2022
Revision
Parties were asked to respond to a survey by 15 October so that material could be published in time for review before early voting.
Updates will appear as new information becomes available, or new policies are released.
If parties wish to see new material included, or seek changes to our presentation, please email phaa.vic@gmail.com
Other election campaign resources
Here’s our playlist featuring some of the experts who helped us launch the Public Health in Victoria: Ten Successes to Guide a Healthier Future report in August 2022.
The Hon Ted Baillieu, former Premier of Victoria.
Election Platform
Full Version – Our election priorities, evidence base and policy context
Short Version – Our election priorities in a short format, good for sharing with friends, family and colleagues
Advocacy Toolkit – Our toolkit gives you all the information and resources you need to engage in political and social media advocacy throughout the election campaign.
Template Advocacy Letter – Use this template letter to write to your local candidates and party health spokespeople to raise their awareness of the #VoteForPublicHealth campaign.
Vote for Public Health, Tasmania 