Greens call for independent review of newly split health and human services departments

The Victorian Greens have said the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the critical need for Victoria to have well-funded, properly structured health and human services systems.

The Greens say that while they have supported the government’s health-led approach to the pandemic, PAEC’s COVID inquiry report has exposed the many systemic shortcomings in both our health and human services systems.

The Greens believe the failings in the contact tracing system and hotel quarantine, outbreaks among health care workers, inadequate communication with multicultural communities and the mismanagement of the public housing lockdown are all cause for a comprehensive review of our health and human services departments.

Greens PAEC member Sam Hibbins MP, in his minority report, has recommended:

• An independent, external review of the new Department of Health and Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, to determine how they can best meet the needs of the Victorian community as well as
• A significant increase in recurrent funding for public health
• A new National Centre for Disease Control to be located in Melbourne

Quotes attributable to Sam Hibbins MP:

“Responding to emergencies, managing disease outbreaks, protecting public health, looking after people most in need and engaging with multicultural communities are not one-in-100-year events that are at the periphery of government responsibilities, but core functions that are at the centre of both our health and human services systems.

“An independent, external review of the new Departments of Health and Families, Fairness and Housing and increased funding for public health will help ensure they can best meet the needs of the Victorian community.

“Melbourne is best placed to establish a National Centre for Disease Control that would assist with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and help to deliver a coordinated response for future pandemics.”