❓ Dr. Honey questions the Premier about live rodent shortages impacting cancer research following the Animal Resources Centre closure. The Premier defends the decision, citing viability issues and a shift towards a national ecosystem.
AnsweredQoN 848Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MEDICAL RESEARCH —
LIVE RODENT SHORTAGE
848. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Premier:
I draw the Premier's
attention to comments made by Associate Professor Jason Waithman from the UWA
cancer immunotherapy program that the shortage of live rodents for medical
research is presenting a major threat to continued cancer research in our
state.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please.
Dr
D.J. HONEY : Members opposite might
not think it is serious but other people do. An article published in The West
Australian on 28 October outlined that privatisation of the Animal
Resources Centre had caused major delays in the supply of live rodents,
negatively impacting vital cancer research and risking the shutdown of cancer
research programs in our state.
(1) As the Premier
was the minister who initiated the closure of the Animal Resources Centre, has
he been made aware of the problem described by Professor Waithman?
(2) Why did the Premier's government give
assurances to the medical research community that the Animal Resources Centre closure would not disrupt
the supply of animals for research when this is exactly what has
happened?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please.
LIVE RODENT SHORTAGE
848. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Premier:
I draw the Premier's
attention to comments made by Associate Professor Jason Waithman from the UWA
cancer immunotherapy program that the shortage of live rodents for medical
research is presenting a major threat to continued cancer research in our
state.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please.
Dr
D.J. HONEY : Members opposite might
not think it is serious but other people do. An article published in The West
Australian on 28 October outlined that privatisation of the Animal
Resources Centre had caused major delays in the supply of live rodents,
negatively impacting vital cancer research and risking the shutdown of cancer
research programs in our state.
(1) As the Premier
was the minister who initiated the closure of the Animal Resources Centre, has
he been made aware of the problem described by Professor Waithman?
(2) Why did the Premier's government give
assurances to the medical research community that the Animal Resources Centre closure would not disrupt
the supply of animals for research when this is exactly what has
happened?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please.
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) Obviously,
medical research and clinical trials are an important part of our overall
health ecosystem. The fact of the matter is that the current facilities that
were based at Murdoch University were significantly challenged in the way they operated, the viability of the service and its
future, primarily because Murdoch University wanted the land upon which
it was based. The opportunity to continue to make sure that we service that
particular part of the medical and life sciences industry was obviously taken
up by a private provider. That is simply the way this part of the industry is
going.
It is not optimal that scientists are
struggling in this area. Quite frankly, I am sure that we will be able to resolve this issue. It is essentially a national
ecosystem now; it is not simply a matter of each state supporting this
particular endeavour. The decisions we made took account of that.
medical research and clinical trials are an important part of our overall
health ecosystem. The fact of the matter is that the current facilities that
were based at Murdoch University were significantly challenged in the way they operated, the viability of the service and its
future, primarily because Murdoch University wanted the land upon which
it was based. The opportunity to continue to make sure that we service that
particular part of the medical and life sciences industry was obviously taken
up by a private provider. That is simply the way this part of the industry is
going.
It is not optimal that scientists are
struggling in this area. Quite frankly, I am sure that we will be able to resolve this issue. It is essentially a national
ecosystem now; it is not simply a matter of each state supporting this
particular endeavour. The decisions we made took account of that.
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