We met with the Minister for Health on 6 June 2011 to discuss the issue of the possible privatisation of pathology at Bendigo Health and the impact that would have on the health service and the community.

At the end of the meeting the Minister said that he would

• look at the issue closely
• would make direct inquiries
• was keen to retain specialist staff in regional areas
• come back to us re the issue

We are still waiting for the Minister to get back to us. The longer the silence the greater the inference that the Minister intends giving the nod to privatisation. Perhaps the Baillieu government has forgotten the strong feelings of voters in rural and regional Victoria against the privatisations of the 1990s. Those feelings still run deep, and for good reason.