❓ Mr. Alban asks about the benefits of the new Midland university campus. Premier Barnett outlines the government's commitment, the collaboration with Curtin University and the Commonwealth, and the broader educational and healthcare benefits for the region.
AnsweredQoN 401Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
UNIVERSITY
CAMPUS — MIDLAND
401. Mr F.A. ALBAN to the
Premier:
Before I ask my question, I would like to acknowledge
principal Rod Simeons and the leadership team from Aveley Primary School in my
electorate who are in the public gallery today.
I refer to the recent announcement that the eastern suburbs
will have a new Midland campus. What benefits will this bring to Midland, the
wider east metropolitan region and regional Western Australia?
CAMPUS — MIDLAND
401. Mr F.A. ALBAN to the
Premier:
Before I ask my question, I would like to acknowledge
principal Rod Simeons and the leadership team from Aveley Primary School in my
electorate who are in the public gallery today.
I refer to the recent announcement that the eastern suburbs
will have a new Midland campus. What benefits will this bring to Midland, the
wider east metropolitan region and regional Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Swan Hills
for the question. I know the member and his constituents, and all those people
living in Midland in the eastern suburbs, will be delighted and are delighted
by the announcement over the weekend. At the last state election, the Liberal
Party made a commitment —
Ms
M.M. Quirk interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I call you to order for the first time.
Ms
M.M. Quirk interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Do you want to be called for the second time on the same voice?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : At the last state election, the Liberal Party made a
commitment that it would work to achieve a university campus in the eastern
suburbs. We made a commitment to provide land for the campus. That site has
been identified and is probably worth $5 million. We also made a commitment to
provide $22 million to Curtin University to build the campus. That commitment
will be delivered; it is now committed. I was pleased —
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : How negative they are!
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the first time.
Member for Butler, I do not want to hear from you either.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : In the discussions with Curtin University at the time, it
also had an objective to develop a new medical school for Western Australia,
particularly to train general practitioners to work in rural country areas and
outer suburban areas. The two came together and the final piece in that jigsaw
was to get the commonwealth government to take long-term responsibility for the
training places, university placements, of medical students. Those negotiations
have gone on, particularly over the last six months. The commitment by the
Prime Minister means that the state will contribute land plus $22 million and
take responsibility for internships. After 2022, the commonwealth will start to
fully fund places at the university. Curtin will put $67 million into the
construction of the campus buildings and so on.
This is a great outcome for Western
Australia. It is a fact that on a per capita basis Western Australia is short
950 doctors. If we look at the composition across Australia, 26 per cent of
doctors are overseas trained; in Western Australia, it is 38 per cent, and many
of those come from developing countries. That is not acceptable for a First
World nation like Australia or a prosperous state like Western Australia.
Ms
M.M. Quirk interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker —
Mr
B.J. Grylls interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I call you to order for the first time.
Ms
M.M. Quirk interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear any more from you.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I also make the point that although much of the debate has
been the disagreement between the Australian Medical Association and the state
and federal governments, this is more than a medical school. This is a campus
to provide, for the first time, tertiary education into the eastern suburbs of
Perth. The rate of access to tertiary education in the eastern suburbs is far
lower than in the rest of the metropolitan area. Although it is yet to be
decided, the courses that Curtin and the state government expect to see
delivered are not only medicine but also nursing, other health sciences,
education, business and engineering. They are all courses that will be
delivered in the eastern suburbs. Why is the Labor Party so disappointed? It
jeers and heckles one of the big achievements for medicine and healthcare in
Western Australia's history. What a great opportunity for young people
in the eastern suburbs to have direct access to tertiary education. There is
only one disappointed group—the opposition!
for the question. I know the member and his constituents, and all those people
living in Midland in the eastern suburbs, will be delighted and are delighted
by the announcement over the weekend. At the last state election, the Liberal
Party made a commitment —
Ms
M.M. Quirk interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I call you to order for the first time.
Ms
M.M. Quirk interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Do you want to be called for the second time on the same voice?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : At the last state election, the Liberal Party made a
commitment that it would work to achieve a university campus in the eastern
suburbs. We made a commitment to provide land for the campus. That site has
been identified and is probably worth $5 million. We also made a commitment to
provide $22 million to Curtin University to build the campus. That commitment
will be delivered; it is now committed. I was pleased —
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : How negative they are!
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the first time.
Member for Butler, I do not want to hear from you either.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : In the discussions with Curtin University at the time, it
also had an objective to develop a new medical school for Western Australia,
particularly to train general practitioners to work in rural country areas and
outer suburban areas. The two came together and the final piece in that jigsaw
was to get the commonwealth government to take long-term responsibility for the
training places, university placements, of medical students. Those negotiations
have gone on, particularly over the last six months. The commitment by the
Prime Minister means that the state will contribute land plus $22 million and
take responsibility for internships. After 2022, the commonwealth will start to
fully fund places at the university. Curtin will put $67 million into the
construction of the campus buildings and so on.
This is a great outcome for Western
Australia. It is a fact that on a per capita basis Western Australia is short
950 doctors. If we look at the composition across Australia, 26 per cent of
doctors are overseas trained; in Western Australia, it is 38 per cent, and many
of those come from developing countries. That is not acceptable for a First
World nation like Australia or a prosperous state like Western Australia.
Ms
M.M. Quirk interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker —
Mr
B.J. Grylls interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I call you to order for the first time.
Ms
M.M. Quirk interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear any more from you.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I also make the point that although much of the debate has
been the disagreement between the Australian Medical Association and the state
and federal governments, this is more than a medical school. This is a campus
to provide, for the first time, tertiary education into the eastern suburbs of
Perth. The rate of access to tertiary education in the eastern suburbs is far
lower than in the rest of the metropolitan area. Although it is yet to be
decided, the courses that Curtin and the state government expect to see
delivered are not only medicine but also nursing, other health sciences,
education, business and engineering. They are all courses that will be
delivered in the eastern suburbs. Why is the Labor Party so disappointed? It
jeers and heckles one of the big achievements for medicine and healthcare in
Western Australia's history. What a great opportunity for young people
in the eastern suburbs to have direct access to tertiary education. There is
only one disappointed group—the opposition!
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