❓ Opposition Leader McGowan questions Premier Barnett on why the Australian Medical Association (AMA) feels unheard regarding concerns about the New Children's Hospital. Barnett deflects, urging McGowan to register as a lobbyist if he wants to advocate for the AMA and pivots to promoting a new medical school in Midland.
AnsweredQoN 635Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
NEW CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL — CAPACITY
635. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Premier:
The Premier says that he has listened, so why has the
Australian Medical Association, the organisation of doctors in this country,
indicated that the Premier has not listened to the concerns of medical
professionals across this state on this important issue?
635. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Premier:
The Premier says that he has listened, so why has the
Australian Medical Association, the organisation of doctors in this country,
indicated that the Premier has not listened to the concerns of medical
professionals across this state on this important issue?
AnswerView source ↗
If the Leader of the Opposition wants to come into this place
and advocate for the AMA, that is fine; do it—register as a lobbyist!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The issue for the AMA is to look at the policy, the critical
issue that affects them and this state, and to support this government's
proposal for a new medical school in Midland as part of Curtin University. That
is core business for the AMA. Over half of the doctors —
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Members should listen.
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
The SPEAKER : The
member for Armadale is on notice. If he continues to shout out, he will be
having an early rest. I call the member for Armadale to order for the first
time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The AMA obviously represents doctors in this state. A core
issue for the AMA is to support that new medical school as part of Curtin
University, and to have that in the eastern suburbs, in Midland. That will
bring tertiary education into the eastern suburbs, which has been an oversight
for so long in metropolitan Perth. It is a fact that in country areas over half
of general practitioners—52 per cent, or something like that—are
trained overseas; so Western Australia, a First World developed state, is
poaching GPs from Africa. That is what we are doing.
Mr D.T. Redman : It
is disgraceful!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It is disgraceful. There is an urgent need for a new medical
school in this state, even though there is a small one attached to Notre Dame
University. Every other state, including South Australia, has two major medical
schools. The state that is growing the quickest and has the greatest need for
GPs does not have a second major medical school. The opposition should support
the government on that and it should support tertiary education in the eastern
suburbs of Perth.
and advocate for the AMA, that is fine; do it—register as a lobbyist!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The issue for the AMA is to look at the policy, the critical
issue that affects them and this state, and to support this government's
proposal for a new medical school in Midland as part of Curtin University. That
is core business for the AMA. Over half of the doctors —
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Members should listen.
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
The SPEAKER : The
member for Armadale is on notice. If he continues to shout out, he will be
having an early rest. I call the member for Armadale to order for the first
time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The AMA obviously represents doctors in this state. A core
issue for the AMA is to support that new medical school as part of Curtin
University, and to have that in the eastern suburbs, in Midland. That will
bring tertiary education into the eastern suburbs, which has been an oversight
for so long in metropolitan Perth. It is a fact that in country areas over half
of general practitioners—52 per cent, or something like that—are
trained overseas; so Western Australia, a First World developed state, is
poaching GPs from Africa. That is what we are doing.
Mr D.T. Redman : It
is disgraceful!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It is disgraceful. There is an urgent need for a new medical
school in this state, even though there is a small one attached to Notre Dame
University. Every other state, including South Australia, has two major medical
schools. The state that is growing the quickest and has the greatest need for
GPs does not have a second major medical school. The opposition should support
the government on that and it should support tertiary education in the eastern
suburbs of Perth.
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