Introduction by Croakey: As Victoria changed Premiers this week, the focus of many observers was on a political party that doesn’t yet have a leader in the state: One Nation.
Nonetheless, polling suggests a close contest at the 28 November election between Labor, the Liberal-National coalition, and One Nation; the possibility of a Liberal-National minority government in a coalition or alliance with One Nation is being canvassed by civil society organisations.
The implications of this for critical public health issues, including the State’s groundbreaking Treaty with First Peoples, climate action and wider evidence-informed policy, are enormous.
They extend well beyond Victoria’s borders too, which explains why the election is being closely watched. As Jon Faine wrote in The Guardian, “the spectre of One Nation hovers over all”.
“[Pauline] Hanson has never made inroads in Victoria. Her party has no local leader, no candidates and no policy platform. But according to the polls, for many Victorians, none of that matters.” Since his column was published, a One Nation candidate has been announced, with more to come.
The new Premier, Ben Carroll, is a former lawyer and political adviser who has held many portfolios, including education. His views on sustaining VicHealth as an independent agency and other key health concerns are not widely known.
In her resignation speech, Allan included in her list of accomplishments the building of 121 new schools and 12 new hospitals, as well as transport infrastructure, regional development, and Australia’s First Treaty.
Allan, Victoria’s second female Premier, said she was proud to have led a Government that listened to girls – opening 15 women’s health clinics across the state, making the pill available at the chemist without having to pay to see a GP, and launching Australia’s first Virtual Emergency Department, for when “your child is sick in the middle of the night”.
Below, some health groups acknowledge Allan’s contributions, especially around the Treaty, Aboriginal health, and women’s health, while the Victorian branch of the Royal Australian College of GPs puts its members’ interests forward.
Acknowledging leadership
Statement by VACCHO
The Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) has thanked outgoing Victorian Labor leader and Premier Jacinta Allan, for her leadership and ongoing commitment to Aboriginal health, self-determination and Victoria’s Treaty process.
VACCHO Acting CEO Jim O’Shea said Ms Allan has played an important role in advancing reforms that recognised the rights, voices and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Victoria.
“On behalf of VACCHO, we thank Ms Allan for her support of Aboriginal health and wellbeing and her commitment to Victoria’s path to Treaty.”
As Premier, Ms Allan took the incredible step to appear before the Yoorrook Justice Commission, telling the truth about Victoria’s past. She also signed Australia’s first Treaty and delivered a historic apology recognising the hurt inflicted on Aboriginal communities through harmful state policies.
VACCHO recognises the incredible legacy that Ms Allan leaves behind and wish her all the very best for her future endeavours.
VACCHO also extends its warm congratulations to Ben Carroll on his appointment as Premier and new leader of the Victorian Labor Party.
“We look forward to building on our relationship with Mr Carroll and the Victorian Government to ensure Aboriginal health and wellbeing remain a priority, and that the Treaty process continues to progress.”
“We recognise the important work Mr Carroll has already done within his previous portfolios to elevate Aboriginal health and wellbeing,” Mr O’Shea said.
Mr Carrol helped secured $4.5 million to kickstart the development and implementation of marra ngarrgoo, marra goorri: The Victorian Aboriginal Health, Medical and Wellbeing Research Accord.
VACCHO also values Mr Carroll’s support to develop the recent Education and Training Reform Amendment to include recognition of First Nations people and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.
VACCHO remains committed to working with the Victorian Government to strengthen the health and wellbeing outcomes of all Aboriginal communities in Victoria.
Women’s health
Time to reset
Statement by Victorian branch of the Royal Australian College of GPs
Victorian specialist GPs have said the election of Ben Carroll as the new Premier of Victoria is a welcome chance to reset relations between the state’s doctors and government, after years of GPs’ warnings being “ignored”.
This comes after Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) Victoria urged all parties to back general practice to reduce the strain on Victorian hospitals in the upcoming November state election.
RACGP Victoria Deputy Co-Chair Dr Aadhil Aziz said GPs welcome the election of a new Premier as a chance to reset and address affordability, general practice viability, and patient safety.
“The new Victorian Premier, Ben Carroll, has said he will deliver the new direction Victoria needs. As GPs, that’s what we have been waiting to hear,” he said.
“As our patients’ first and main point of contact with the health system, we’ve come to the Victorian Government with critical issues and been ignored.
“We want all Victorians to have access to affordable care close to home. The election of a new Premier is an opportunity for a reset, and we’re ready to talk solutions that will provide Victorians with better access to healthcare.”
He said the recently applied payroll tax on GP billings is the biggest threat to the sustainability of general practice and patient access in Victoria.
State governments in Western Australia, Queensland, and Tasmania have exempted the billings of GPs from payroll tax. The RACGP welcomed a commitment by the Victorian opposition to scrap payroll tax on GPs earlier this month.
“The additional burden of payroll tax on GP billings has been a tax on our patients,” Dr Aziz said
“Most general practices are small businesses, and in a state which has become known as a bad place to start or run a small business, the insistence of the previous Treasurer and Premier on adding extra payroll tax to the challenges of running a practice have been felt by GPs and patients.
“Payroll tax wasn’t levied on the billings of independent medical practitioners like most GPs until a few years ago. General practice margins are extremely thin, about 2–3%, so a payroll tax of up to 4.85%, levied regardless of profitability, has been an enormous hit to viability.
“We warned the previous Premier and Treasurer that practices would have to increase fees, we were ignored, and GPs and patients bore the cost.
“For practices that can’t attract the GP workforce they need, especially to rural or outer suburban areas, the only option has been to increase fees to patients – which in turn increases the payroll tax they pay. It’s a vicious cycle.
“We hope the new Premier is ready to join his colleagues in Parliament and in other states in offering a solution.”
The RACGP is also calling for parties running in the Victorian election to:
- cease the expansion of the Chemist Care Now program, strengthen training requirements, and commit to a public review of patient outcomes and adverse events
- reinstate the role of Chief General Practice Adviser to ensure general practice is appropriately represented in the Department of Health, reducing health system spending and improving Victorians’ health outcomes.
“There is no substitute for high-quality care delivered by a GP who knows you and your history,” Dr Aziz said.
“We warned that there wasn’t evidence to support the safety of expanding pharmacist prescribing without a proper trial and evaluation of health outcomes, the previous Victorian leadership went ahead regardless, and since then independent reports have shown how reckless that was.
“It’s clear the next Victorian Government needs to embed general practice in state health decision-making. The health department currently employs senior health professionals representing nursing and midwifery, psychiatry, paramedicine, and other allied health.
“The voice of general practice is a critical omission. Reinstating the Chief General Practice Adviser will open opportunities to ensure health programs are appropriate, coordinated and cost-effective.
“The next Victorian Government has a choice. It can invest in stronger general practice now, or continue paying much more when patients end up in hospital because they couldn’t access care earlier.”
See Croakey’s archive of articles on the 2026 Victorian election
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