[Greens-Media] No cure without prevention in budget - Greens (Vic, C Hartland)

[Elizabeth.Ingham at parliament.vic.gov.au]

Greens MLC Colleen Hartland says big state budget cuts in social housing, 
supported accommodation, community health, dental health and preventative 
health will hit disadvantaged Victorians hard and result in greater costs 
for the whole community in the future.

"When the government makes short term cuts to the budget in essential 
community services, we all pay more in the long run," said Colleen 
Hartland, Victorian Greens spokesperson for Health and Community Services.

"Waiting lists for social housing and supported accommodation will 
continue to grow, with big cuts in these areas that really need urgent 
investment."

"At last count there were over 1300 people in urgent need of supported 
accommodation and the government has offered just 50 new places. In fact, 
the budget papers show they expect to have just 25 more clients in 
supported accommodation in 2012.*  How on earth they propose that this 
will help reduce the waiting list is beyond me."

"Social housing suffered some of the biggest budget cuts with an effective 
cut of 26 percent. The government will say this is due to reductions in 
Commonwealth funding. But that kind of blame game doesn't help people 
waiting for urgent appropriate housing."

"Last night the government released its health plan which identified a lot 
of problems but offered little in solutions. We have known for a long time 
that investing in community health and preventative health reduces 
pressure on the health system and saves money in the long term. It's 
beyond belief then that this budget cuts community health care spending by 
4.6 percent in real terms."**

"The government acknowledges there are no measures in the budget to reduce 
waiting times for dental care, with average waiting times for dentures and 
restorative dental care to remain 22 and 23 months respectively."

"While there are some welcome measures in this budget, the vast majority 
of Victorians will be impacted by these cuts. Anyone who needs housing for 
themselves or a relative or friend, supported accommodation or dental care 
will be extremely disappointed with this budget."

"Cutting into community health care and preventative health spending will 
cost us all dearly in the long term, so this is not a smart budget," said 
Ms Hartland

For comment: Colleen Hartland - 9689 6373

* Budget Paper 3, p.221
** Budget Paper 3, p.205

*******************************************

Liz Ingham
Office of Colleen Hartland MLC
Western Metropolitan Region

A: 75 Victoria Street, Seddon 3011
P: 9689 6373
M: 0409 333 595
F: 9689 6227
E: elizabeth.ingham at parliament.vic.gov.au
W: http://mps.vic.greens.org.au

///////************************************************************///////////////

Parliament of Victoria                                                                                                                    . 
Important Disclaimer Notice:


The information contained in this email  including any attachments, may be 
confidential and/or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please 
notify the sender and delete it from  your system. Any unauthorised 
disclosure, copying or dissemination of all or part of this email, including 
any attachments, is not permitted. This email, including any attachments, should 
be dealt with in accordance with copyright and  privacy legislation. 
Except where otherwise stated, views expressed are those of the individual sender.