❓ A parliamentary question highlighting long dental waiting lists in regional WA and criticising the government's commitment to rural dental health due to budget cuts. The Minister denies the claims and criticises the lack of prior notice.
AnsweredQoN 1127Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to the Australian Labor Party’s pre-election policy on regional health, which condemned the former Government for waiting times for regional dental services. The policy states that dental waiting lists are growing in the country and that Albany, Bunbury and Geraldton patients wait on average eight months for treatment. (1) Is the minister aware that according to Department of Health figures, in July 2003 nearly 21 000 people were waiting for dental treatment in Western Australia? (2) Is the minister further aware that patients are waiting for dental treatment for 13 months in Bunbury, 20 months in the goldfields, nearly two years - just over 23 months - in Albany and 19 months in Rockingham, which is not far from here? (3) Will the minister concede that his Government has no commitment to dental health services in the country as evidenced by his recent decision to cut $700 000 from the University of Western Australia Centre for Rural and Remote and Oral Health? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
(1) No. (2) No. (3) No. If the member had been serious about this issue, he would have given me some notice of the question.
(1) Is the minister aware that according to Department of Health figures, in July 2003 nearly 21 000 people were waiting for dental treatment in Western Australia? (2) Is the minister further aware that patients are waiting for dental treatment for 13 months in Bunbury, 20 months in the goldfields, nearly two years - just over 23 months - in Albany and 19 months in Rockingham, which is not far from here? (3) Will the minister concede that his Government has no commitment to dental health services in the country as evidenced by his recent decision to cut $700 000 from the University of Western Australia Centre for Rural and Remote and Oral Health? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1) No. (2) No. (3) No. If the member had been serious about this issue, he would have given me some notice of the question.
(2) Is the minister further aware that patients are waiting for dental treatment for 13 months in Bunbury, 20 months in the goldfields, nearly two years - just over 23 months - in Albany and 19 months in Rockingham, which is not far from here? (3) Will the minister concede that his Government has no commitment to dental health services in the country as evidenced by his recent decision to cut $700 000 from the University of Western Australia Centre for Rural and Remote and Oral Health? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1) No. (2) No. (3) No. If the member had been serious about this issue, he would have given me some notice of the question.
(3) Will the minister concede that his Government has no commitment to dental health services in the country as evidenced by his recent decision to cut $700 000 from the University of Western Australia Centre for Rural and Remote and Oral Health? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1) No. (2) No. (3) No. If the member had been serious about this issue, he would have given me some notice of the question.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1) No. (2) No. (3) No. If the member had been serious about this issue, he would have given me some notice of the question.
(1) No. (2) No. (3) No. If the member had been serious about this issue, he would have given me some notice of the question.
(2) No. (3) No. If the member had been serious about this issue, he would have given me some notice of the question.
(3) No. If the member had been serious about this issue, he would have given me some notice of the question.
(1) Is the minister aware that according to Department of Health figures, in July 2003 nearly 21 000 people were waiting for dental treatment in Western Australia? (2) Is the minister further aware that patients are waiting for dental treatment for 13 months in Bunbury, 20 months in the goldfields, nearly two years - just over 23 months - in Albany and 19 months in Rockingham, which is not far from here? (3) Will the minister concede that his Government has no commitment to dental health services in the country as evidenced by his recent decision to cut $700 000 from the University of Western Australia Centre for Rural and Remote and Oral Health? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1) No. (2) No. (3) No. If the member had been serious about this issue, he would have given me some notice of the question.
(2) Is the minister further aware that patients are waiting for dental treatment for 13 months in Bunbury, 20 months in the goldfields, nearly two years - just over 23 months - in Albany and 19 months in Rockingham, which is not far from here? (3) Will the minister concede that his Government has no commitment to dental health services in the country as evidenced by his recent decision to cut $700 000 from the University of Western Australia Centre for Rural and Remote and Oral Health? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1) No. (2) No. (3) No. If the member had been serious about this issue, he would have given me some notice of the question.
(3) Will the minister concede that his Government has no commitment to dental health services in the country as evidenced by his recent decision to cut $700 000 from the University of Western Australia Centre for Rural and Remote and Oral Health? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1) No. (2) No. (3) No. If the member had been serious about this issue, he would have given me some notice of the question.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1) No. (2) No. (3) No. If the member had been serious about this issue, he would have given me some notice of the question.
(1) No. (2) No. (3) No. If the member had been serious about this issue, he would have given me some notice of the question.
(2) No. (3) No. If the member had been serious about this issue, he would have given me some notice of the question.
(3) No. If the member had been serious about this issue, he would have given me some notice of the question.
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