Health · Healthcare & Policy · 1 hr ago
Victorian parties promise $53.6m for patient travel assistance
Victoria’s Labor government and opposition have both promised $53.6 million for patient travel assistance if they win next month’s state election.
The Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme helps eligible people travel long distances for specialist medical care.
Under the proposed changes, accommodation support would rise from $45 to $125 a night, and fuel reimbursements from 21 to 35 cents per kilometre.
Patients say months-long refund delays leave them short of money, even though the standard claim processing time is six to eight weeks.
Mildura resident Lara Hamilton said she was waiting for thousands of dollars in reimbursements and had waited more than six months for some claims.
The Leukaemia Foundation says Victoria currently has the country’s worst reimbursement options, and the proposed changes would bring it level with South Australia.
The next focus is how the funding is delivered, while the government says it has added processing resources and introduced an online claims portal.
Victoria’s Labor government and the opposition have each promised $53.6 million for the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme if elected next month.
The scheme helps eligible Victorians who travel long distances for specialist medical treatment.
Proposed changes would raise accommodation subsidies from $45 to $125 a night and fuel reimbursements from 21 to 35 cents per kilometre.
Patients interviewed by ABC Australia said long reimbursement waits and travel costs were putting pressure on their budgets.
- Who
- Victoria’s Labor government and the opposition have made the funding promise.
- What
- Each has promised $53.6 million for the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme, with proposed increases to accommodation and fuel reimbursements.
- When
- The announcement was reported on October 15, 2026; the promise is conditional on success at next month’s state election.
- Where
- Victoria, Australia.
- Why
- The scheme assists eligible Victorians who travel long distances for specialist medical treatment.
Labor
Coalition
Timing and responsibility
Labor
Labor Health Minister Ingrid Stitt said the funding increase would make a real difference and pointed to measures introduced to reduce processing times.
Coalition
Shadow Health Minister Georgie Crozier said Labor had 12 years to address problems with the scheme and acted only weeks before the election.
Reimbursement rates
Labor
Labor has promised funding and proposed higher accommodation and fuel reimbursements.
Coalition
The Coalition says it has long advocated for higher rates, which it says are the lowest in the country under Labor.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Funding promise
- $53.6 million from each major political side
- Accommodation subsidy
- Proposed increase from $45 to $125 a night
- Fuel reimbursement
- Proposed increase from 21 cents to 35 cents per kilometre
- Eligibility travel threshold
- 100 kilometres one way or 500 kilometres within seven days
- Reported users
- Almost 30,000 regional Victorians use the scheme
What people are saying
The Coalition has long been advocating on behalf of regional Victorians for an increase in the accommodation and petrol rates under the VPTAS, which are the lowest in the country under Labor
We don't want people to have to worry about money as well as everything else that they're dealing with
With the cost-of-living crisis at the moment, no-one can afford to wait for $4,500
Six to eight weeks is a long time without having money, and to not be able to shop because you have to save up for so long