Tania Maxwell MP has called on the Premier to give the Northern Victorian communities a fair share of health funding after the government announced a $1 billion package for the Austin and Northern hospitals in Melbourne’s north.

The Member for Northern Victoria said regional people continued to be left behind, with Parliamentary Budget Office costings done for her Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party confirming regional communities are 11 per cent worse off than metropolitan communities when it comes to asset investment.

Ms Maxwell said the people she represents were waiting on important health investment commitments, including a new Mildura hospital and new Albury Wodonga Health single-site hospital, redevelopment funding for Swan Hill, Daylesford and Bright hospitals, and sustained funding for Euroa Health.

“The government needs to recognise and invest in hospital and health services in the north of the state, not just the north of Melbourne,” Ms Maxwell said.

“Albury Wodonga Health has established a clear case for a new hospital, the community has been campaigning for the past year, and the government continues to stall on a commitment of funding.

“Northern Victoria deserves a fair share of the pie when it comes to election commitments and if the Labor Government can prioritise an announcement for the Melbourne’s north, it should expedite an announcement for the north of our state.”