Here’s an update on a few of the issues AMA Victoria is working on for members, including:

  • Meeting with the Health Minister

  • Intersex Bill passes Parliament

  • WorkSafe administrative burden - member feedback sought.

 

Meeting with the Health Minister

We met earlier this week with the Victorian Health Minister, Mary-Anne Thomas MP.

We began with our public hospital doctors’ EBA campaign and the link between safe work and safe care. Fatigue management, secure employment for doctors in training and fair pay are central to patient safety and workforce sustainability. We emphasised that a system reliant on fatigued doctors is not a safe system.

We also discussed recent allegations regarding gynaecological care at Epworth Freemasons and the broader questions this raises about clinical governance and escalation processes. There was agreement that public confidence depends on strong oversight and clear reporting pathways, and that healthcare workers must be able to raise concerns safely and early.

Additionally, we raised the continued pressure on the mental health system, including bed shortages and service gaps affecting patients and staff. Recent cases have raised concerns about access to inpatient care and the management of risk in high-acuity settings. Sustained investment and a stable workforce remain essential.

Preventive health was also discussed, including the need for sustained investment in prevention and early intervention.

We spoke about the forthcoming release of the cohealth review and the broader role of primary care in supporting vulnerable patients and relieving pressure on hospitals. This includes adequate Medicare rebates for complex consultations and sustainable multidisciplinary care.

The Health Services Plan and Local Health Service Networks were also discussed, particularly the need to improve care coordination and referral pathways.

It was a constructive discussion. Engagement will continue as these matters progress.

 

Intersex Bill passes Parliament

The Health Safeguards for People Born with Variations in Sex Characteristics Bill 2025 passed the Victorian Parliament last week. Given the numbers in both Houses, the outcome was not unexpected.

AMA Victoria expressed principled opposition to the Bill. A number of Opposition MPs cited our concerns during parliamentary debate, including the potential application of criminal sanctions, the expansion of state oversight into matters traditionally managed by doctors and families, and the practical impact on time sensitive care.

While the Bill has now passed, refinements were secured earlier in the drafting process through discussions with the Department. These changes address several practical concerns raised by the profession.

The definition of “restricted medical treatment” now includes the ability for treatments to be removed from scope through regulation.

Panel and committee composition was strengthened. Panel membership must include registered medical practitioners, and the Chair of the oversight panel must consider relevant expertise when appointing an assessment committee. Assessment committees will also be required to seek independent, relevant specialist advice when approving a treatment plan.

Timelines were addressed. The Chair of the oversight panel will be required by legislation to consider clinical urgency and prioritise applications accordingly. The supporting processes will be prescribed in regulations to ensure they remain aligned with contemporary clinical practice.

The legislation is expected to commence in December 2028. With a three-year lead time, we will monitor implementation closely and hold the Department and Government to their commitment to consult the profession and ensure the framework is workable in practice.


WorkSafe administrative burden - member feedback sought

AMA Victoria continues to raise with WorkSafe Victoria about the rising administrative burden linked to WorkCover, based on consistent member feedback.

Doctors report that procedural requirements are increasingly shaping whether they participate in the scheme. This is not reluctance to treat injured workers. Rather, some experienced clinicians are reducing or ceasing WorkCover work due to duplication, approval delays in straightforward cases, unclear decision-making authority, use of non-medical assessors for surgical approvals, non-routine outcome reporting, and expectations that unfunded administrative work can be absorbed within existing fees.

AMA Victoria continues to press for a simpler, clinically grounded and sustainable model. Further recent examples from members would assist this advocacy.

Members may provide feedback to Lewis Horton at [email protected]