Victorian election promises
Health policies and promises at the 2026 Victorian election
What each side says on hospitals, dental care, ambulances and mental health: first from their own policy pages and releases, then as quoted in the ads they've paid for. Labor 19, Liberal 4, Nationals 2, Greens 1, Minor parties 1.
From the parties' own policies
Summaries of each party's policy pages and releases, in their words, with what they commit to. Follow the link for the full policy.
Not here yet: One Nation. We can't read their policy pages automatically, so read them on their own sites; what they say in their ads is below.
Animal Justice Party
Government-provided abortion and contraception services in public health system
The Animal Justice Party says government should provide safe, affordable and accessible contraception and abortion services as part of the public health system. It says it supports increased access for rural and regional areas and diverse communities, including First Nations people, people with disability, CALD and LGBTQIA+ communities.
- Provide safe, affordable contraception and abortion services through the public health system
- Prioritise reproductive services availability nationwide, with emphasis on rural and regional areas
Case-by-case assessment of cultured meat products
The Animal Justice Party says it will judge cultured meat replacements case by case as evidence emerges. It says cultured meat could replace meat from killing animals but that its health effects are not yet known. The party says it will ask the NHMRC to report on cultured meat, dairy and egg products.
- Judge cultured meat replacements on a case-by-case basis as evidence emerges
- Ask the NHMRC to report on cultured meat, dairy and egg products
Decriminalise cannabis use and regulate a lawful supply
The Animal Justice Party supports decriminalising cannabis use and regulating a lawful, safe supply similar to tobacco or alcohol. It says an independent agency should handle harm minimisation, with enforcement focused on producers and suppliers rather than consumers. The party also supports further research into medicinal cannabis and active government support for the hemp industry.
- Decriminalise the use of cannabis
- Regulate a lawful and safe cannabis supply, similar to tobacco or alcohol
- Establish an independent agency responsible for harm minimisation
- Focus cannabis enforcement on producers and suppliers, not consumers
- Support further research into medicinal cannabis
Increased investment in free and affordable healthcare
The Animal Justice Party says it supports increased investment in free and affordable medical, dental and mental health care, including preventative care. It also supports higher nurse and midwife-to-patient ratios in hospitals and a strategy for climate-related health impacts. No timeframe or cost is stated.
- Support increased investment in free and affordable medical, dental and mental health care
- Support higher nurse and midwife-to-patient ratios in hospitals
- Develop and implement a strategy for health impacts of climate change
- Support increased investment in community health workers
Mental health system reform with prevention and community services
The Animal Justice Party says it would fully fund a mental health system accessible to everyone, with more emphasis on prevention, early intervention and community-based services. It also says it would address systemic factors such as inequality, economic stress, housing, violence and climate change that affect mental health.
- Refocus mental health system on prevention, early intervention and community-based services
- Provide adequately staffed and funded services from early intervention to crisis care
- Improve coordination of mental health services and support systems
- Address systemic factors affecting mental health, including inequality, housing and violence
- Support people involved in animal rescue and care with funding and self-care training
Restrict sale and promotion of processed meat like tobacco
The Animal Justice Party says processed meat should not be sold to under-18s and should carry health warnings, modelled on tobacco policy. It proposes public education campaigns, a school cafeteria sales ban, a hospital ban and a deterrent tax on processed meat.
- Ban sale of processed meat to people under 18
- Mandate health warnings on all processed meat products
- Publicly fund education campaigns on processed meat harms
- Ban processed meat sales in school cafeterias
- Ban processed meat in hospitals
Victorian Government
Construct new Melton Hospital
The Victorian Labor Government says major construction has begun on the new Melton Hospital, a more than $900 million project on Ferris Road, due for completion in 2029. It says the hospital will have at least 274 beds, a 24-hour emergency department and mental health services for Melbourne's western suburbs.
- Deliver new Melton Hospital with at least 274 beds
- Treat 130,000 patients each year
- Operate a 24-hour emergency department seeing almost 60,000 patients yearly
- Complete construction on track for 2029
- Create more than 2,400 construction jobs
New Footscray Hospital opening in February 2026
The Victorian Labor Government says the $1.5 billion Footscray Hospital is nearing completion and will open to patients in February 2026. It says the hospital will have over 500 beds, up 200, and will host Victoria's first fully public pathology service.
- Open new Footscray Hospital to patients in February 2026
- Increase hospital beds by 200 to over 500
- Treat approximately 15,000 additional patients each year
- Support 20,000 additional emergency department presentations each year
- Establish Victoria's first fully public pathology service at the hospital
Medical equipment grants for Victorian hospitals
The Victorian Government says it has awarded $35 million across 10 projects at eight health services through the latest Medical Equipment Replacement Program round, for upgrades to imaging and surgical equipment. It says the 2025/26 Budget adds $52.3 million to fund the next round.
- Share $35 million across 10 medical equipment projects at eight health services
- Upgrade Peter MacCallum's diagnostic CT unit for lung cancer screening
- Install a wide bore MRI scanner with bariatric capability at Alfred Health
- Add $52.3 million to the MERP in the 2025/26 Budget for the next round
59 new graduate paramedics deployed across Victoria
The Victorian Government says 59 new graduate paramedics, including 57 Graduate Ambulance Paramedics and two Ambulance Community Officers, will start 12-month placements across Melbourne and regional Victoria from next week. The government says the intake builds on a year of recruitment, including 30 MICA paramedics.
- Deploy 14 graduate paramedics across Melbourne branches
- Deploy 45 graduate paramedics across regional Victoria
- Place graduates on 12-month placements starting Monday
Free RSV vaccine for public aged care residents
The Victorian Labor Government says it is delivering a free Arexvy RSV vaccine to residents aged 60 and over in public and Aboriginal community-controlled aged care services, described as an Australian first. The $2.2 million program is presented as complementing broader aged care funding.
- Deliver free Arexvy RSV vaccine to residents aged 60 and over
- Cover public and Aboriginal community-controlled aged care services
- Deliver the program as a nation-first for older Victorians
Women's Health Research Catalyst Grants
The Victorian Government says it has funded 15 research projects through the $1.5 million Women's Health Research Catalyst Grants program, with grants ranging from $15,000 to $150,000. The grants are intended as seed funding to research women's health issues across areas including sexual and reproductive health, cardiovascular health, oncology, orthopaedics and chronic pain.
- Fund 15 women's health research projects through Catalyst Grants
- Grants range from $15,000 to $150,000 per recipient
- Research areas include sexual and reproductive health, cardiovascular health, oncology, orthopaedics and chronic pain
Victorian Greens
Disability rights, funding and support policy
The Victorian Greens set out a disability policy based on human rights, self-determination and adequate, indexed funding for lifetime care and support. Aims include a guaranteed adequate income for people with disability and their carers, stronger anti-discrimination laws, and workforce improvements for disability support workers. The page does not state a timeframe or total cost.
- Provide adequate, ongoing, fully indexed funding for lifetime care and support for people with disability
- Guarantee an adequate income for people with disability and their carers
- Strengthen Victorian laws to prohibit discrimination or vilification on the basis of disability
- Provide free legal advice and advocacy where disability limits a person's capacity to put their case
- Improve pay, conditions and career structures for workers living with disabilities
Free public dental care for all Victorians
The Victorian Greens say they will build a publicly owned dental system providing free care to all Victorians, funded by taxing large gambling corporations. They say they will invest $3 billion over 10 years, open 20 free clinics, and expand prevention programs.
- Invest $3 billion over 10 years to expand free public dental care
- Open 20 free dental clinics across Victoria, including regional areas
- Remove out-of-pocket expenses for public dental
- Make Victorian oral health workers the best paid in Australia
- Provide properly funded vouchers to reduce public dental wait times
Mental health services funding and access policy
The Victorian Greens say public mental health services must be fully funded, with increased resources, more beds, reduced waiting times and better emergency department triage. The platform also lists aims on housing, employment, carers and compulsory treatment, and says it was amended by State Council on 20 August 2022.
- Increase resources and protect funding for community mental health programs and clinical services
- Increase availability of mental health beds across Victoria, including respite beds
- Improve triage and admission for acute mental health episodes in emergency departments
- Reduce use and duration of compulsory treatment year by year and publish data
- Ensure free access to legal representation for consumers before the Mental Health Tribunal
Older people policy aims and principles
The Victorian Greens set out principles and aims for older people, including affordable housing, quality aged care, home support, workforce protections and concessions. The page lists aims rather than costed measures, and does not give timelines or funding amounts.
- Fund a scheme for minor home renovations to help older people stay at home
- Increase funding to boost numbers, skills and salaries of aged care staff
- Establish state-run aged care for First Nations, CALD, LGBTIQA+ and other people with special needs
- Advocate for consistent seniors' concessions across all Australian states
- Protect older workers against age discrimination and support flexible work arrangements
Universal public health care and prevention platform
The Victorian Greens say government should fund universal, timely health care regardless of ability to pay, and prioritise prevention, public health, and reduced wait lists. The platform also covers drug policy, alcohol and tobacco measures, and cannabis legalisation, though it gives no single costing or implementation date.
- Reduce elective surgery wait lists through more investment and preventative care
- Increase public birthing services and palliative care access
- Phase out alcohol advertising on public transport and billboards
- Legalise recreational cannabis production, sale and use
- Decriminalise personal use of non-commercial quantities of drugs
Specialist hospital security and action on overcrowding
The Victorian Greens say they back frontline doctors' and nurses' calls for 24/7 specially trained security staff in emergency departments and re-establishing the Victorian Violence in Healthcare Taskforce. They say these must be paired with more staffing, action on overcrowding and long waits, and greater investment in preventative, community, rehabilitation, aged care and allied health services.
- 24/7 specially trained security staff part of emergency department clinical teams
- Re-establish the Victorian Violence in Healthcare Taskforce
- Significantly increase investment in preventative and community health services
- More investment in rehabilitation, aged care and allied health
Victorian Labor
Free public dental clinics for all Victorians
Victorian Labor says it will open 20 free public dental clinics, including six in regional Victoria, offering walk-in check-ups and treatment for adults and children. The clinics would operate seven days a week and prioritise urgent cases.
- Open 20 new public dental clinics, six in regional Victoria
- Provide free walk-in check-ups and treatment for adults and children
- Clinics open 9am to 9pm weekdays and 9am to 5pm weekends
- Treat more than 100,000 Victorians each year once fully operating
- Every Victorian resident eligible for a free annual check-up
Open 250 more emergency beds and hire 750 more nurses
Victorian Labor says it will open 250 more beds and hire 750 more nurses at 12 emergency departments to cut wait times. It says this could reduce ED wait times by up to 20 per cent and treat more than 210,000 people each year. The page also says Labor will expand 12 more hospital emergency departments.
- Open 250 more beds at 12 emergency departments
- Hire 750 more nurses at 12 emergency departments
- Cut emergency department wait times by up to 20 per cent
- Expand 12 more hospital emergency departments
New mental health Local in Wendouree and Ararat
Victorian Labor says a re-elected Labor government will invest $19.5 million to deliver a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Local in Wendouree and Ararat. The Local would give people across Ballarat and Ararat free mental health treatment and support without needing a GP referral, Medicare card or treatment plan.
- Invest $19.5 million to deliver a new Local in Wendouree and Ararat
- Provide free mental health treatment and support close to home in Ballarat and Ararat
- Allow access without a GP referral, Medicare card or mental health treatment plan
Supported housing with wraparound support for adults with mental illness
Victorian Labor says a re-elected Carroll Labor Government will invest $15.8 million to deliver purpose-built supported housing for adults living with mental illness, with ongoing wraparound support to help them keep their tenancies and access health and community services. Labor says this is part of delivering the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System recommendations.
- Invest $15.8 million in supported housing for adults living with mental illness
- Deliver purpose-built supported housing homes across the state
- Provide ongoing wraparound support to help people maintain tenancies
Weekend emergency dental care at 10 public clinics
Victorian Labor says a re-elected Carroll Labor Government will open 10 existing public dental clinics on weekends for emergency care, including in regional areas. It says this $26.9 million investment will support more than 50,000 Victorians. The release also says Labor will deliver 20 free dental clinics and sign-on bonuses for dentists.
- Open 10 existing public dental clinics on weekends for emergency care
- Deliver 20 free dental clinics: 14 across Melbourne and six in regional Victoria
- Provide sign-on bonuses to bring more dentists into the public system
- Support more than 50,000 Victorians with the weekend emergency expansion
Free walk-in public dental clinics across Victoria
Victorian Labor says it will deliver 20 free walk-in dental clinics, 10 more than previously announced, opening from July 2027, with 14 in Melbourne and six in regional Victoria. It also says it will offer sign-on bonuses to attract dentists into the public system.
- Deliver 10 additional free dental clinics, bringing the total to 20
- 14 clinics in Melbourne and six in regional Victoria
- Clinics open from July 2027 with no appointment and no bill
- Clinics open 9am to 9pm on weekdays and 9am to 5pm on weekends
- Dentist sign-on bonuses of $20,000 in metropolitan Melbourne or $30,000 in regional Victoria
Victorian Socialists
Decriminalise personal drug use and expand treatment services
Victorian Socialists say drug policy should treat addiction as a health and welfare issue rather than a criminal one. They propose decriminalising personal possession of all currently illegal substances, establishing a regulated cannabis market, expanding safe consumption sites and addiction treatment capacity, and expunging some drug-related criminal records.
- Decriminalise possession for personal use of all currently illegal substances
- Establish a regulated legal market for cannabis
- Establish safe consumption sites with treatment and social services on-site
- Remove the limit on the number of medically supervised injecting centres
- Expunge criminal records for personal use or supply without commercial intent
Disability justice: public, free services and NDIS protections
Victorian Socialists say they will progressively move private disability services into public hands, fund state disability services wound up after the NDIS, and oppose federal NDIS cuts. They say no child should lose NDIS access before equivalent support is operational, and that services should be free and co-designed with the disability community.
- Progressively transition all private disability services into public hands
- Restore and increase funding for state-funded disability services wound up after the NDIS
- Oppose federal NDIS funding cuts, reduced plan values and tighter eligibility
- Abolish employment exemptions allowing below-award wages for disabled workers
- Ban non-consensual use of Applied Behaviour Analysis on autistic people
End religious exemptions and expand LGBTIQ+ protections in Victoria
Victorian Socialists say they will remove exemptions that let institutions discriminate against LGBTIQ+ people on religious grounds, and strengthen enforcement of the conversion practices ban. They also say they will fully fund gender-affirming care, expand LGBTIQ+ youth housing and inclusive education, and oppose any restriction on these by One Nation or other parties.
- Remove all exemptions allowing institutions to discriminate against LGBTIQ+ people on religious grounds
- Strengthen enforcement of Victoria's Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Act
- Fully fund free, accessible, timely gender-affirming care across Victoria, including for young people
- Significantly increase specialist emergency and transitional housing for LGBTIQ+ young people
- Ensure inclusive, age-appropriate sexuality and gender education in all Victorian schools
Fire services fleet replacement and public manufacturing
Victorian Socialists say they would reintroduce an annually funded rolling fleet replacement program for Fire Rescue Victoria and establish publicly owned fire appliance manufacturing in Victoria. The party also says it would restore worker protections, guarantee real wage rises above inflation for firefighters, and oppose privatisation of fire service functions.
- Reintroduce an annually funded rolling fleet replacement program for FRV
- Commit immediate capital funding to remove the most degraded appliances first
- Establish publicly owned fire appliance manufacturing capacity in Victoria
- Introduce a second appliance supplier until domestic manufacturing is in place
- Guarantee real wage rises above inflation for firefighters and fire service workers
Fix the public health system crisis
Victorian Socialists say they will overhaul the public health system, increasing hospital capacity, ambulance response, health worker numbers and wages. The page lists commitments on hospitals, community and primary health, and reversing privatisation, without stating a timeline for most.
- Boost public hospital beds to at least 3 per 1,000 Victorians
- Expand the ambulance fleet to reduce wait times
- Make ambulance services free for everyone by removing membership requirements
- Establish public community health centres offering free GP, dental, mental health and other services
- Establish a state-owned pharmaceutical company to manufacture medicines and vaccines
Phase out poker machines and restrict gambling harms
Victorian Socialists say they will phase out all pokies within five years and ban gambling industry advertising, including sports sponsorship and online betting promotions. They also propose mandatory pre-commitment technology, a 3am to noon shutdown at Crown Casino and licensed venues, and expanded publicly funded gambling treatment services.
- Phase out all pokies within five years
- Ban all gambling industry advertising, including sports sponsorship and online betting promotions
- Ban all political donations from the gambling industry
- Mandate a gambling shutdown at Crown Casino and all licensed venues between 3am and noon
- Introduce mandatory pre-commitment technology on all electronic gaming machines
The Nationals
Secure By Five Early Years Initiative for Wimmera Southern Mallee children
The Liberal and Nationals would commit $800,000 over four years to secure the By Five Early Years Initiative in Wimmera Southern Mallee, after the Labor Government ceased its funding in 2025. The funding would keep the local coordination team working with families, councils, schools, health services and early-years providers.
- Commit $800,000 over four years to By Five
- Fund $200,000 a year for By Five's local coordination team
- Sustain local partnerships and monitor outcomes for By Five
Increase Victorian Patient Transport Scheme travel and accommodation support
The Nationals say that in government they would commit $53.6 million to the Victorian Patient Transport Scheme (VPTAS), raising accommodation assistance from $49.50 to $125 per night and private vehicle assistance from 21 to 35 cents per kilometre. They also say they would address the timeliness of reimbursements.
- Raise VPTAS accommodation assistance from $49.50 to $125 per night
- Raise VPTAS private vehicle assistance from 21 to 35 cents per kilometre
- Address the timeliness of VPTAS reimbursements
Redevelop Mortlake Community Health Centre into health and wellbeing hub
The Liberals and Nationals say they would commit $2 million to transform the Mortlake Community Health Centre into a modern health and wellbeing hub with expanded services, including a new paediatric therapy and family wellbeing space. The release says the redevelopment is conditional on the coalition winning government.
- Commit $2 million to redevelop Mortlake Community Health Centre
- Build a new paediatric therapy and family wellbeing space
- Expand speech pathology, physiotherapy, and maternal and child health services
- Allocate 25 per cent of all infrastructure spending to regional Victoria
Health plan for aged care, surgery and youth mental health
Gaelle Broad says the Liberal and Nationals plan to address health pressures includes a SurgerySooner program buying 25,000 extra procedures a year, a patient transit lounge fund, and a youth mental health facility plan. The release also describes a regional health worker incentive. Timing beyond the four-year program periods is not stated.
- Purchase 25,000 additional elective procedures a year from private hospitals over four years
- Establish or expand up to 10 patient transit lounges at high-priority hospitals
- Master-plan a standalone Parkville youth mental health facility with 50 inpatient beds
- Offer $10,000 incentives for regional health workers, plus $10,000 each subsequent year
- Hold an independent review into implementing the mental health royal commission
Family First
Pro-life abortion restrictions and pregnancy support measures
Family First says it may support a range of incremental measures to protect the unborn, including funding crisis pregnancy centres, mandatory pre-abortion counselling with a cooling-off period, and banning late-term abortions. The page also says it would repeal euthanasia laws and resource palliative care.
- Financially support crisis pregnancy centres
- Require ultrasound, risk disclosure and a cooling-off period before abortion
- Give abortion its own Medicare item code
- Ban surrogacy and egg and sperm donation
- Ban late-term abortions and sex-selection abortions
In their ads
Labor 19 promises
Dental care
Deliver free dental for adults and children.
Dental clinics
A re-elected Carroll Government will open 10 free public dental clinics across the state.
Hospital upgrade
Labor is delivering a major upgrade to the Northern Hospital, including a new emergency department that will allow 30,000 more patients to be treated every year.
Emergency department
We’re building a new emergency department at the Northern Hospital.
Hospital funding
Labor is investing more than $300 million to upgrade Dandenong Hospital.
Free dental care
Labor's making dental care free.
Hospital redevelopment
A re-elected Carroll Labor Government will continue to deliver world-class healthcare for families in the Ivanhoe electorate, with the $275 million redevelopment of the Austin Hospital Emergency Department.
Healthcare
Labor's making dental free and opening free Women's Health Clinics.
Women's health clinic
Opening a free women's health clinic.
Show 10 more promises
Emergency department capacity
This redevelopment will see another 30,000 patients treated every year in the emergency department.
Hospitals
Mathew Hilakari and Labor are making dental care free, duplicating Point Cook Road and delivering a new community hospital.
Endometriosis health service
A re-elected Carroll Labor Government will invest $370,000 to support a new Austin Mercy Hospital health service to support women with endometriosis - 5,000 extra scans a year!
Hospital emergency department
A re-elected Carroll Labor government will expand the emergency department at Footscray Hospital.
Abortion access
We’ll increase medical non-surgical abortions to 10 weeks and train more nurses.
Emergency department wait times
We will slash emergency department wait times by up to 20%.
Free dental clinics
Labor will make dental free for adults and kids with 20 free dental clinics.
Graduate nurse positions
We’re boosting our healthcare workforce with 250 graduate nurse positions.
Health services
Kat Theophanous and Labor are making dental care free and opening free Women's Health Clinics.
Nursing staff
Delivering more nurses for regional hospitals.
Liberal 4 promises
Elective surgery
Our Liberal and Nationals team will deliver an extra 25,000 surgeries a year.
Hospital funding
A Jess Wilson-led Liberal and Nationals Government will invest $10 million to deliver new MRI and CT facilities at Sandringham Hospital.
Elective surgery waitlist
We will halve Victoria’s elective surgery waitlist.
Patient transit lounges
$99 million plan to deliver up to 10 new or expanded patient transit lounges and free up hospital beds faster.
Nationals 2 promises
Ambulance station
Only a Liberals and Nationals Government will deliver a new ambulance station for Benalla.
Youth mental health care age
Raising the youth mental health care age to 25.
Greens 1 promise
Dental care
We'll make public transport and dental care free.
Minor parties 1 promise
Womens health
Expand regional women’s health services.
No health promises in ads from Independents yet. That's what they've advertised, not necessarily their policy.
Recent votes in parliament on health
What MPs actually voted for, from Hansard.
Automated External Defibrillators (Public Access) Bill 2026: introduction
Voting yes supported the Automated External Defibrillators (Public Access) Bill 2026 being introduced to Parliament, which only starts its formal progress and does not agree to its contents.
Defeated 31 to 48
Safe Food Victoria Bill 2026: committee
Voting yes supported making an amendment to the Safe Food Victoria Bill 2026 during its committee stage.
Defeated 13 to 22
Safe Food Victoria Bill 2026: committee
Voting yes supported making the amendments to the Safe Food Victoria Bill 2026 during committee stage, though the question was defeated and the amendments were not adopted.
Defeated 13 to 22
Safe Food Victoria Bill 2026: committee
Voting yes supported making the amendment to the Safe Food Victoria Bill 2026 during committee, which the chamber defeated.
Defeated 13 to 22
Safe Food Victoria Bill 2026: committee
Voting yes supported making the amendments to the Safe Food Victoria Bill 2026 during committee, as the amendment details were not provided.
Defeated 13 to 21
Safe Food Victoria Bill 2026: committee
Defeated 13 to 21
Other topics
- Cost of living
- Housing
- Crime and safety
- Education
- Transport and infrastructure
- Economy and tax
- Energy
- All victorian election promises
Policy summaries are written by AI from each party's own page and checked against it; every commitment listed appears on the page. Ad quotes are taken from the ads' text and video by AI and grouped by subject; "See the ad" opens the original. How this works.