Member for Lowan and Victorian Nationals deputy leader Emma Kealy has called on the State Government to increase financial support for regional patients travelling long distances for medical care.

Speaking in parliament last month, Ms Kealy said some Lowan residents had to travel hundreds of kilometres to Melbourne, Ballarat or Geelong to access specialist medical treatment.

She said the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme, VPTAS, which supports rural and regional patients with medical-associated travel costs, had failed to keep up with rising fuel prices.

Ms Kealy said the current rate of reimbursement for patients through the scheme was 21 cents per kilometre for a private vehicle.

She said the rate was well below a national tax-deduction rate of 88 cents per kilometre set by the Australian Taxation Office.

Ms Kealy said a spike in fuel prices caused by the United States’ war with Iran had exacerbated the shortfall.

“I am hearing from constituents who are delaying or even skipping appointments because they simply cannot afford the trip,” she said.

“This is the reality for many regional Victorians – the fuel crisis is feeding into a cost-of-living crisis, which in turn has dangerous ripple effects for people who have to travel for healthcare.

“With limited public transport options, many patients have no alternative but to drive and face the substantial out-of-pocket costs.

“This situation is completely unsustainable and unfair, and yet another example of rural and regional communities being punished under Labor.”

A Department of Health spokesperson said the VPTAS subsidy rate of 21 cents per kilometre was not linked to the ATO’s tax-deduction rate, but was intended to be equivalent to the cost of the most economical public transport alternatives.

They said the government expanded VPTAS eligibility last month to include non-commercial clinical trials and specialised dental care, also launching a new online portal to simplify claims and streamline assessments for faster reimbursement.

“We have expanded the eligibility to ensure the scheme continues to provide practical, reliable support to regional patients when they need it most,” they said.

“VPTAS is not a wage or tax allowance like the ATO mileage rate – it’s a targeted financial subsidy with defined eligibility criteria so it can continue to support as many patients as possible.”

Ms Kealy said VPTAS should increase to better reflect rising travel costs.

“Access to healthcare should not depend on where you live or your ability to pay for fuel,” she said.

“Regional patients deserve fair support so they can attend appointments and receive the care they need, when they need it, and I urge the Allan Labor government to immediately address this critical issue.”

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