❓ Ms. Hamilton asks about the Joondalup Health Campus expansion commitment. The Minister assures the house of the government's commitment, criticises federal funding and Christian Porter's claims, and highlights progress.
AnsweredQoN 321Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
JOONDALUP HEALTH CAMPUS
321. Ms E. HAMILTON to the Minister for Health:
(1) Can the
minister update the house on the McGowan Labor government's commitment
to putting patients first and expanding that Joondalup Health Campus for the
people of the northern suburbs?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house whether he is aware of anyone who is misleading the
public on this commitment?
321. Ms E. HAMILTON to the Minister for Health:
(1) Can the
minister update the house on the McGowan Labor government's commitment
to putting patients first and expanding that Joondalup Health Campus for the
people of the northern suburbs?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house whether he is aware of anyone who is misleading the
public on this commitment?
AnswerView source ↗
I would like to thank the member for
Joondalup for the question; she is a tireless advocate for the people of
Joondalup and, in particular, patients who go to that great hospital in
Joondalup for care. Her advocacy is almost equalled by the advocacy from Kim
Travers, the great federal Labor candidate for Pearce and of course, Anne Aly,
the Labor member for Cowan. They are terrific advocates for the northern
suburbs and it is great to see the member for Joondalup's success in
influencing our policies.
(1)–(2) Members
will remember that we had a fair share for the WA healthcare campaign last
year. It was about highlighting that Canberra continues to deny Western Australia
its fair share of health dollars, and making sure that WA gets what it
deserves, in not only GST, but healthcare expenditure. We were the recipients
of a good announcement from the federal government and federal opposition that
will contribute towards the redevelopment of Joondalup hospital, one of our
centrepiece election commitments, to make sure that people in the northern
suburbs get the health care they need, putting people in Joondalup and patients
first. For that reason, it is an important commitment that we are making.
Already, in the 2018–19 budget, we have provisioned $161 million
towards the redevelopment of that project, which is expected to be delivered by
2024–25 with early works in March 2020; we are getting on with the job.
It is surprising to therefore hear Christian Porter trying to, somehow, in a desperate
attempt to make him electable, make some sort of desperate plea to the people
of Pearce that we are walking away from this commitment. Nothing can be further
from the truth. I know that the member for Joondalup, Emily Hamilton, will
never let us get away with it even if we wanted to. Already, we have delivered
on one of our important commitments to this hospital, which is to open a 12-bed
stroke service at that hospital. This unit includes six acute care beds, which are co-located in a therapy space, that
provide convenient access and opportunity for the earliest specialist stroke
rehabilitation, providing comprehensive care. The Liberals are the last people
from whom I would take a lesson in funding health care. Scott Morrison and
Christian Porter have cut hospital expenditure in WA by $77 million. That is
fewer doctors and nurses, and less health care for Western Australians.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition!
Mr R.H. COOK : That is in
addition to the fact that they froze the Medicare rebate so that all our GPs in
Western Australia continue to struggle under the mean-spirited policies of the
Abbott–Turnbull–Morrison government.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr R.H. COOK : The very last
person I will take a lesson from when it comes to funding health care —
The SPEAKER : Minister! You
are rowdier than them. Members, please—I want to hear the answer. By
the time I stood up it was very rowdy, and when I got up it was very soft.
Mr R.H. COOK : One of the very
last people I would take a lesson from in� funding health care is one of the architects
of the $40 billion deficit that we have to deal with: Christian Porter, one of
the Treasurers who crippled our state's finances.
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Dawesville!
Mr R.H. COOK : Hospitals are
not built in a day. Members opposite should know that—they are hopeless
at doing it. Hospitals are not built in a day, but I can assure the people of Western
Australia that we will do it despite the cuts from the Liberal and National
Parties and despite the commentary from Christian Porter.
Joondalup for the question; she is a tireless advocate for the people of
Joondalup and, in particular, patients who go to that great hospital in
Joondalup for care. Her advocacy is almost equalled by the advocacy from Kim
Travers, the great federal Labor candidate for Pearce and of course, Anne Aly,
the Labor member for Cowan. They are terrific advocates for the northern
suburbs and it is great to see the member for Joondalup's success in
influencing our policies.
(1)–(2) Members
will remember that we had a fair share for the WA healthcare campaign last
year. It was about highlighting that Canberra continues to deny Western Australia
its fair share of health dollars, and making sure that WA gets what it
deserves, in not only GST, but healthcare expenditure. We were the recipients
of a good announcement from the federal government and federal opposition that
will contribute towards the redevelopment of Joondalup hospital, one of our
centrepiece election commitments, to make sure that people in the northern
suburbs get the health care they need, putting people in Joondalup and patients
first. For that reason, it is an important commitment that we are making.
Already, in the 2018–19 budget, we have provisioned $161 million
towards the redevelopment of that project, which is expected to be delivered by
2024–25 with early works in March 2020; we are getting on with the job.
It is surprising to therefore hear Christian Porter trying to, somehow, in a desperate
attempt to make him electable, make some sort of desperate plea to the people
of Pearce that we are walking away from this commitment. Nothing can be further
from the truth. I know that the member for Joondalup, Emily Hamilton, will
never let us get away with it even if we wanted to. Already, we have delivered
on one of our important commitments to this hospital, which is to open a 12-bed
stroke service at that hospital. This unit includes six acute care beds, which are co-located in a therapy space, that
provide convenient access and opportunity for the earliest specialist stroke
rehabilitation, providing comprehensive care. The Liberals are the last people
from whom I would take a lesson in funding health care. Scott Morrison and
Christian Porter have cut hospital expenditure in WA by $77 million. That is
fewer doctors and nurses, and less health care for Western Australians.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition!
Mr R.H. COOK : That is in
addition to the fact that they froze the Medicare rebate so that all our GPs in
Western Australia continue to struggle under the mean-spirited policies of the
Abbott–Turnbull–Morrison government.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr R.H. COOK : The very last
person I will take a lesson from when it comes to funding health care —
The SPEAKER : Minister! You
are rowdier than them. Members, please—I want to hear the answer. By
the time I stood up it was very rowdy, and when I got up it was very soft.
Mr R.H. COOK : One of the very
last people I would take a lesson from in� funding health care is one of the architects
of the $40 billion deficit that we have to deal with: Christian Porter, one of
the Treasurers who crippled our state's finances.
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Dawesville!
Mr R.H. COOK : Hospitals are
not built in a day. Members opposite should know that—they are hopeless
at doing it. Hospitals are not built in a day, but I can assure the people of Western
Australia that we will do it despite the cuts from the Liberal and National
Parties and despite the commentary from Christian Porter.
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