❓ Question regarding the Minister for Health's plan to address public dental waiting lists in WA, with the Minister deflecting and suggesting a national solution is needed. The opposition criticises the lack of a clear plan.
AnsweredQoN 748Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PUBLIC DENTAL WAITING LIST
I have a supplementary question. If the minister does not know what to do about it, how can we be guaranteed that he is going to improve the system, as was his claim at the last election? Dr K.D. HAMES
I have a supplementary question. If the minister does not know what to do about it, how can we be guaranteed that he is going to improve the system, as was his claim at the last election? Dr K.D. HAMES
AnswerView source ↗
I would like to see the words in which I claimed I would improve the dental health system in this state. I do not recall making any such statement. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I recognise, as did the former Minister for Health, that this is a very difficult area to deal with. Mr E.S. Ripper : What’s your plan though? You can’t just stand there and say it’s difficult; you’ve got to have a plan! The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is not a miraculous solution. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you going to train people? Are you going to raise wages? Are you going to recruit from overseas? What are you going to do? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am sure that if there was a miraculous solution, the former Treasurer—now Leader of the Opposition—would have done it last time! Tell me what the former Treasurer did in seven years! Come on, tell me what the former Treasurer did to improve the number of dentists, dental assistants and people being treated! Mr E.S. Ripper : Have a look at the number now—it is a lot worse than it was; what are you going to do about it? Dr K.D. HAMES : That is because not enough dentists want to work within the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: I would like to see the words in which I claimed I would improve the dental health system in this state. I do not recall making any such statement. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I recognise, as did the former Minister for Health, that this is a very difficult area to deal with. Mr E.S. Ripper : What’s your plan though? You can’t just stand there and say it’s difficult; you’ve got to have a plan! The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is not a miraculous solution. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you going to train people? Are you going to raise wages? Are you going to recruit from overseas? What are you going to do? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am sure that if there was a miraculous solution, the former Treasurer—now Leader of the Opposition—would have done it last time! Tell me what the former Treasurer did in seven years! Come on, tell me what the former Treasurer did to improve the number of dentists, dental assistants and people being treated! Mr E.S. Ripper : Have a look at the number now—it is a lot worse than it was; what are you going to do about it? Dr K.D. HAMES : That is because not enough dentists want to work within the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
I would like to see the words in which I claimed I would improve the dental health system in this state. I do not recall making any such statement. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I recognise, as did the former Minister for Health, that this is a very difficult area to deal with. Mr E.S. Ripper : What’s your plan though? You can’t just stand there and say it’s difficult; you’ve got to have a plan! The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is not a miraculous solution. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you going to train people? Are you going to raise wages? Are you going to recruit from overseas? What are you going to do? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am sure that if there was a miraculous solution, the former Treasurer—now Leader of the Opposition—would have done it last time! Tell me what the former Treasurer did in seven years! Come on, tell me what the former Treasurer did to improve the number of dentists, dental assistants and people being treated! Mr E.S. Ripper : Have a look at the number now—it is a lot worse than it was; what are you going to do about it? Dr K.D. HAMES : That is because not enough dentists want to work within the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I recognise, as did the former Minister for Health, that this is a very difficult area to deal with. Mr E.S. Ripper : What’s your plan though? You can’t just stand there and say it’s difficult; you’ve got to have a plan! The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is not a miraculous solution. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you going to train people? Are you going to raise wages? Are you going to recruit from overseas? What are you going to do? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am sure that if there was a miraculous solution, the former Treasurer—now Leader of the Opposition—would have done it last time! Tell me what the former Treasurer did in seven years! Come on, tell me what the former Treasurer did to improve the number of dentists, dental assistants and people being treated! Mr E.S. Ripper : Have a look at the number now—it is a lot worse than it was; what are you going to do about it? Dr K.D. HAMES : That is because not enough dentists want to work within the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I recognise, as did the former Minister for Health, that this is a very difficult area to deal with. Mr E.S. Ripper : What’s your plan though? You can’t just stand there and say it’s difficult; you’ve got to have a plan! The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is not a miraculous solution. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you going to train people? Are you going to raise wages? Are you going to recruit from overseas? What are you going to do? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am sure that if there was a miraculous solution, the former Treasurer—now Leader of the Opposition—would have done it last time! Tell me what the former Treasurer did in seven years! Come on, tell me what the former Treasurer did to improve the number of dentists, dental assistants and people being treated! Mr E.S. Ripper : Have a look at the number now—it is a lot worse than it was; what are you going to do about it? Dr K.D. HAMES : That is because not enough dentists want to work within the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
Mr E.S. Ripper : What’s your plan though? You can’t just stand there and say it’s difficult; you’ve got to have a plan! The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is not a miraculous solution. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you going to train people? Are you going to raise wages? Are you going to recruit from overseas? What are you going to do? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am sure that if there was a miraculous solution, the former Treasurer—now Leader of the Opposition—would have done it last time! Tell me what the former Treasurer did in seven years! Come on, tell me what the former Treasurer did to improve the number of dentists, dental assistants and people being treated! Mr E.S. Ripper : Have a look at the number now—it is a lot worse than it was; what are you going to do about it? Dr K.D. HAMES : That is because not enough dentists want to work within the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is not a miraculous solution. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you going to train people? Are you going to raise wages? Are you going to recruit from overseas? What are you going to do? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am sure that if there was a miraculous solution, the former Treasurer—now Leader of the Opposition—would have done it last time! Tell me what the former Treasurer did in seven years! Come on, tell me what the former Treasurer did to improve the number of dentists, dental assistants and people being treated! Mr E.S. Ripper : Have a look at the number now—it is a lot worse than it was; what are you going to do about it? Dr K.D. HAMES : That is because not enough dentists want to work within the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
Dr K.D. HAMES : There is not a miraculous solution. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you going to train people? Are you going to raise wages? Are you going to recruit from overseas? What are you going to do? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am sure that if there was a miraculous solution, the former Treasurer—now Leader of the Opposition—would have done it last time! Tell me what the former Treasurer did in seven years! Come on, tell me what the former Treasurer did to improve the number of dentists, dental assistants and people being treated! Mr E.S. Ripper : Have a look at the number now—it is a lot worse than it was; what are you going to do about it? Dr K.D. HAMES : That is because not enough dentists want to work within the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you going to train people? Are you going to raise wages? Are you going to recruit from overseas? What are you going to do? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am sure that if there was a miraculous solution, the former Treasurer—now Leader of the Opposition—would have done it last time! Tell me what the former Treasurer did in seven years! Come on, tell me what the former Treasurer did to improve the number of dentists, dental assistants and people being treated! Mr E.S. Ripper : Have a look at the number now—it is a lot worse than it was; what are you going to do about it? Dr K.D. HAMES : That is because not enough dentists want to work within the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I am sure that if there was a miraculous solution, the former Treasurer—now Leader of the Opposition—would have done it last time! Tell me what the former Treasurer did in seven years! Come on, tell me what the former Treasurer did to improve the number of dentists, dental assistants and people being treated! Mr E.S. Ripper : Have a look at the number now—it is a lot worse than it was; what are you going to do about it? Dr K.D. HAMES : That is because not enough dentists want to work within the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Have a look at the number now—it is a lot worse than it was; what are you going to do about it? Dr K.D. HAMES : That is because not enough dentists want to work within the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
Dr K.D. HAMES : That is because not enough dentists want to work within the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: I would like to see the words in which I claimed I would improve the dental health system in this state. I do not recall making any such statement. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I recognise, as did the former Minister for Health, that this is a very difficult area to deal with. Mr E.S. Ripper : What’s your plan though? You can’t just stand there and say it’s difficult; you’ve got to have a plan! The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is not a miraculous solution. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you going to train people? Are you going to raise wages? Are you going to recruit from overseas? What are you going to do? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am sure that if there was a miraculous solution, the former Treasurer—now Leader of the Opposition—would have done it last time! Tell me what the former Treasurer did in seven years! Come on, tell me what the former Treasurer did to improve the number of dentists, dental assistants and people being treated! Mr E.S. Ripper : Have a look at the number now—it is a lot worse than it was; what are you going to do about it? Dr K.D. HAMES : That is because not enough dentists want to work within the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
I would like to see the words in which I claimed I would improve the dental health system in this state. I do not recall making any such statement. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I recognise, as did the former Minister for Health, that this is a very difficult area to deal with. Mr E.S. Ripper : What’s your plan though? You can’t just stand there and say it’s difficult; you’ve got to have a plan! The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is not a miraculous solution. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you going to train people? Are you going to raise wages? Are you going to recruit from overseas? What are you going to do? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am sure that if there was a miraculous solution, the former Treasurer—now Leader of the Opposition—would have done it last time! Tell me what the former Treasurer did in seven years! Come on, tell me what the former Treasurer did to improve the number of dentists, dental assistants and people being treated! Mr E.S. Ripper : Have a look at the number now—it is a lot worse than it was; what are you going to do about it? Dr K.D. HAMES : That is because not enough dentists want to work within the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I recognise, as did the former Minister for Health, that this is a very difficult area to deal with. Mr E.S. Ripper : What’s your plan though? You can’t just stand there and say it’s difficult; you’ve got to have a plan! The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is not a miraculous solution. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you going to train people? Are you going to raise wages? Are you going to recruit from overseas? What are you going to do? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am sure that if there was a miraculous solution, the former Treasurer—now Leader of the Opposition—would have done it last time! Tell me what the former Treasurer did in seven years! Come on, tell me what the former Treasurer did to improve the number of dentists, dental assistants and people being treated! Mr E.S. Ripper : Have a look at the number now—it is a lot worse than it was; what are you going to do about it? Dr K.D. HAMES : That is because not enough dentists want to work within the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I recognise, as did the former Minister for Health, that this is a very difficult area to deal with. Mr E.S. Ripper : What’s your plan though? You can’t just stand there and say it’s difficult; you’ve got to have a plan! The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is not a miraculous solution. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you going to train people? Are you going to raise wages? Are you going to recruit from overseas? What are you going to do? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am sure that if there was a miraculous solution, the former Treasurer—now Leader of the Opposition—would have done it last time! Tell me what the former Treasurer did in seven years! Come on, tell me what the former Treasurer did to improve the number of dentists, dental assistants and people being treated! Mr E.S. Ripper : Have a look at the number now—it is a lot worse than it was; what are you going to do about it? Dr K.D. HAMES : That is because not enough dentists want to work within the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
Mr E.S. Ripper : What’s your plan though? You can’t just stand there and say it’s difficult; you’ve got to have a plan! The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is not a miraculous solution. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you going to train people? Are you going to raise wages? Are you going to recruit from overseas? What are you going to do? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am sure that if there was a miraculous solution, the former Treasurer—now Leader of the Opposition—would have done it last time! Tell me what the former Treasurer did in seven years! Come on, tell me what the former Treasurer did to improve the number of dentists, dental assistants and people being treated! Mr E.S. Ripper : Have a look at the number now—it is a lot worse than it was; what are you going to do about it? Dr K.D. HAMES : That is because not enough dentists want to work within the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is not a miraculous solution. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you going to train people? Are you going to raise wages? Are you going to recruit from overseas? What are you going to do? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am sure that if there was a miraculous solution, the former Treasurer—now Leader of the Opposition—would have done it last time! Tell me what the former Treasurer did in seven years! Come on, tell me what the former Treasurer did to improve the number of dentists, dental assistants and people being treated! Mr E.S. Ripper : Have a look at the number now—it is a lot worse than it was; what are you going to do about it? Dr K.D. HAMES : That is because not enough dentists want to work within the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
Dr K.D. HAMES : There is not a miraculous solution. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you going to train people? Are you going to raise wages? Are you going to recruit from overseas? What are you going to do? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am sure that if there was a miraculous solution, the former Treasurer—now Leader of the Opposition—would have done it last time! Tell me what the former Treasurer did in seven years! Come on, tell me what the former Treasurer did to improve the number of dentists, dental assistants and people being treated! Mr E.S. Ripper : Have a look at the number now—it is a lot worse than it was; what are you going to do about it? Dr K.D. HAMES : That is because not enough dentists want to work within the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you going to train people? Are you going to raise wages? Are you going to recruit from overseas? What are you going to do? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am sure that if there was a miraculous solution, the former Treasurer—now Leader of the Opposition—would have done it last time! Tell me what the former Treasurer did in seven years! Come on, tell me what the former Treasurer did to improve the number of dentists, dental assistants and people being treated! Mr E.S. Ripper : Have a look at the number now—it is a lot worse than it was; what are you going to do about it? Dr K.D. HAMES : That is because not enough dentists want to work within the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I am sure that if there was a miraculous solution, the former Treasurer—now Leader of the Opposition—would have done it last time! Tell me what the former Treasurer did in seven years! Come on, tell me what the former Treasurer did to improve the number of dentists, dental assistants and people being treated! Mr E.S. Ripper : Have a look at the number now—it is a lot worse than it was; what are you going to do about it? Dr K.D. HAMES : That is because not enough dentists want to work within the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Have a look at the number now—it is a lot worse than it was; what are you going to do about it? Dr K.D. HAMES : That is because not enough dentists want to work within the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
Dr K.D. HAMES : That is because not enough dentists want to work within the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no silver bullet; there is no magic solution. Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
Mr R.H. Cook : We know what we could do with a silver bullet! Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, well—bang! I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
I think it will take an Australia-wide change in the way we fund our dental programs, and we have had discussions along those lines with the federal minister. I think, collectively, we need to work at finding an Australia-wide solution because Western Australia is not the only state with this difficulty; it is replicated in every other state and territory.
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