The Leukaemia Foundation has welcomed Premier Ben Carroll and Health Minister Ingrid Stitt’s election commitment to invest $53.6 million in the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS), lifting the accommodation subsidy from $49.50 to $125 per night and the private-vehicle rate from 21 to 35 cents per kilometre, and is calling on every other party contesting the 28 November election to match it.
If delivered, the commitment would move Victoria from last to equal first alongside South Australia on the Leukaemia Foundation’s National Patient Travel Scorecard, released last month.
The commitment follows the Leukaemia Foundation’s Cut the Cost of Cancer campaign, with more than 3,000 Victorians signing a petition calling for the accommodation rate to be lifted to $125 per night. The Foundation is also one of 19 cancer, research and consumer organisations in the VPTAS Alliance calling on Victoria to lift its regional patient travel support.
Leukaemia Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Chris Tanti, said the commitment would ease a financial burden that regional Victorians had carried for too long.
“This commitment demonstrates what is possible when community advocacy and political will come together. Regional Victorians facing cancer now have something they have not had before: a clear, costed promise to end the postcode penalty. We will be holding every party to that standard,” Mr Tanti said.
“Victorians calling for this urgent uplift have been heard by one side of politics. Now they deserve to hear from the others before 28 November when we head to the polling booths,” Mr Tanti said.
Merryn Howell, from Benalla, has twice had to relocate to Melbourne for blood cancer treatment and knows how quickly the costs compound.
I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in November 2022 and had to stop working to undergo treatment in Melbourne,” Ms Howell said. “When I relapsed in 2025 and needed a stem cell transplant, I spent a month in hospital and then another three months in nearby accommodation. The costs of accommodation, travel, parking and medications added up.
The Leukaemia Foundation joined 18 other cancer, research and consumer organisations in the VPTAS Alliance calling for Victoria to lift its regional patient travel support.
“This commitment is a breakthrough, however, it is not a guarantee. Until every party has made its position clear, regional Victorians facing cancer still do not know whether this support will be there after 28 November,” Mr Tanti said.
Join the call to Cut the Cost of Cancer.
Sign the petition at cutcancercost.org.au and urge governments to provide better financial support for Australians impacted by cancer.
For support, people affected by blood cancer can contact the Leukaemia Foundation on 1800 620 420 or visit leukaemia.org.au.
