Labor has cut regional healthcare, Nationals will rebuild the workforce

07 September 2026

Labor has cut regional healthcare, Nationals will rebuild the workforce

Incentives of up to $10,000 will be offered to doctors, nurses, midwives andallied health professionals under a Nationals plan to tackle critical healthworkforce shortages.

The Nationals Member for Euroa,Annabelle Cleeland MP, announced a $40 million investment over four years toestablish a Victorian Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme if elected togovernment, which will tackle critical health workforce shortages and rebuildhealthcare services across regional Victoria that have been cut under a Laborgovernment.

Ms Cleeland said Labor’s decisionshave reduced maternity services, put essential services at risk and leftcommunities with increasingly limited access to care across the Euroaelectorate.

“This is what healthcare lookslike in regional Victoria under Labor: maternity services slashed in Benalla,maternity services reduced in Kilmore, podiatry at risk in Benalla andextremely limited mental health services across Southern Hume,” Ms Cleelandsaid.

“In some parts of regionalVictoria, people are facing waits of up to two years for allied healthservices.

“That is not an acceptablestandard of healthcare for regional Victorians.

“Our hospitals and health servicescannot provide the care our communities need without the doctors, nurses,midwives and allied health professionals to deliver it.

“We need to stop treating regionalhealthcare as an afterthought.”

The scheme will give eligiblehealthcare workers support packages including relocation assistance,accommodation support and professional development opportunities to encouragemore professionals to build long-term careers in regional communities
.

The Nationals will target thescheme towards areas experiencing the greatest workforce pressures, modellingit on a successful program operating in New South Wales.

Ms Cleeland said communitiesincluding Benalla, Seymour, Kilmore and Euroa need greater support to attractand retain healthcare professionals.

“We are asking our regional healthservices to compete with metropolitan hospitals for the same skilled workers,while at the same time our communities are struggling with housing shortagesand growing demand for healthcare,” Ms Cleeland said.

“If we want doctors, nurses,midwives and allied health professionals to come to regional Victoria, we needto give them a reason to choose our communities and the support to stay.

“That means helping withrelocation and accommodation, but it also means giving healthcare professionalsthe opportunity to build a long-term career in regional Victoria.

“For too long, Labor has letregional communities watch their healthcare services slowly disappear or becomeharder to access.

“Benalla should not have to fightto retain essential services like maternity and podiatry.

“Families in Kilmore should not beseeing maternity services reduced.

“And people across Southern Humeshould not be left with such limited access to mental health services orwaiting years to see an allied health professional.

“Regional Victorians deservebetter.

“The Nationals plan will put thepeople back into our health system, strengthen our regional workforce and makesure families can access the healthcare they need closer to home.

“We need to rebuild confidence inregional healthcare and make sure the next generation of doctors, nurses,midwives and allied health professionals see regional Victoria as a place wherethey can build a career and a life.”

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