{
  "id": 11762417,
  "title": "Victorian Liberals promise to slash surgery waitlist while Labor backs land tax cuts",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/victorian-liberals-promise-to-slash-surgery-waitlist-while-labor",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-03T20:11:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-04/victoria-liberals-elective-surgery-labor-land-tax/107224800"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Victorian Coalition has pledged to halve wait times for elective surgeries if elected in the upcoming state election. The opposition, Labor, plans to roll back land tax reforms implemented in 2023. Currently, Victoria's elective surgery waitlist stands at approximately 68,730 patients, with many enduring lengthy waits for necessary procedures. Private hospitals have expressed support for the Coalition's plan, citing its success in Queensland. The Opposition Leader, Jess Wilson, promises to provide public patients with the option to receive surgery at private hospitals at no cost, potentially adding 25,000 surgeries annually. This initiative would be funded by liquidating the Breakthrough Victoria investment fund, which is valued at $600 million and incurred losses in both 2024 and 2025. The Coalition's policy aligns with similar measures proposed by other political parties, emphasizing a commitment to addressing healthcare needs.",
  "summary": "The major parties are ramping up their election campaigns in Victoria, as the Coalition vows to halve elective surgery wait times and Labor promises to reverse course on land tax.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}