In 2024, Victoria has found itself at the forefront of a growing crisis in both its manufacturing sector and healthcare services, as high taxes, energy costs, red tape, and poor management continue to plague essential industries.
Recent data reveals that Victoria experienced the highest number of manufacturer insolvencies in the country last year, with 415 companies going bust. This is a startling statistic, particularly considering that the state’s manufacturing sector had the potential to lead globally. Despite this, many local businesses are collapsing under the weight of state and federal policies that seem more focused on bureaucratic procedures than economic growth.
Opposition spokeswoman Sussan Ley has rightly pointed out that the Albanese government’s National Reconstruction Fund has failed to protect a single Victorian job, despite surging insolvencies. The state’s heavy reliance on taxes and regulations is squeezing out the very businesses that could be key drivers of innovation and economic recovery. In a time of increasing economic instability, Victoria’s manufacturers need a lifeline, not an endless array of government-imposed barriers.
Yet, the challenges don’t stop with the economy. The health sector, particularly Ambulance Victoria, is grappling with its own systemic issues. The recent parliamentary inquiry into the service paints a bleak picture, with tragic stories of patients losing their lives while waiting for ambulances that simply weren’t available. In one particularly heart-wrenching case, an elderly woman died after waiting several hours for help.
These delays are not just numbers; they represent real lives lost. Worse yet, Ambulance Victoria is struggling with a toxic workplace culture and rising rates of burnout among paramedics. The agency’s $108 million in WorkCover claims speaks volumes about the crisis within the service.
Both of these issues – the deterioration of Victoria’s manufacturing industry and the ongoing failures in healthcare – reflect a broader pattern of mismanagement and neglect. It is clear that both the Victorian and federal governments must rethink their approach to these sectors.
The state’s businesses and its frontline workers deserve more than just empty promises; they need policies that address the root causes of these crises. Victoria is at a crossroads, and the time for change is now. The state’s future depends on it.
