Wednesday, 9 September 2026

 Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:54): (2605) My question is to the Minister for Health. My Cowes constituent is travelling daily over to Latrobe Regional Health’s Cancer Care Centre for vital breast cancer treatment, and she speaks very highly and deeply values both the Wonthaggi and the Latrobe staff. But what is letting her down is the Victorian patient transport assistance scheme, or VPTAS. Over 30 days of treatment she faced 240 kilometres of round trips and the cost of accommodation if she stayed away for her treatment. Patients pay up-front, as we know, in accommodation before seeking reimbursements through VPTAS. All documentation for this was submitted in April, five months ago, and there is still no reimbursement. Why is the government failing to provide prompt and timely reimbursement to my constituent on this very vital issue?