State Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed has again called on the Victorian Government to support Lemnos medical supply manufacturer Med-Con.
Ms Sheed commended the Federal Government for its five-year contract with the company and said it was time for the state government to also purchase its personal protective equipment from the local business.
Med-Con has significantly cut down on staff and production since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, struggling in a competitive market with overseas imports and other Australian manufacturers.
In August 2021, Ms Sheed called on the federal, state and territory health ministers to support the local manufacturer.
“When the pandemic started in early 2020, Med-Con was the only Australian medical mask manufacturer,” Ms Sheed said.
“They stepped up to the demand when our community and medical staff needed supplies, and when the cheaper supplies from overseas returned to our market Med-Con was forced to reduce its output.”
A Victorian Government spokesperson said it had backed local industry, including Med-Con, through direct purchases and support towards expanding its manufacturing capacity and capability.
“We have ordered millions of pieces of PPE from Med-Con including most recently an order of 1.7 million surgical masks in November 2021,” the spokesperson said.
“This is in addition to a recent order of close to 30,000 aprons from Med-Con as extra protection for our doctors and nurses, and orders in 2020.
“We'll continue to support and invest in local manufacturers where possible, as we have done throughout the pandemic.”
The Department of Health sources PPE, including surgical masks, from a range of suppliers in Victoria, Australia and overseas.
In 2020, HealthShare Victoria procured 5.8 million Level 3 surgical masks and 160,000 Level 1 surgical masks from Med-Con.
Ms Sheed called on Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley to revisit his request to the health department and health agencies to secure a deal like that of the Commonwealth.
“A contract for medical masks with both the federal and state governments would bolster Med-Con and increase job opportunities in our district,” she said.