❓ Opposition questions the government's broken promise to redevelop Royal Perth Hospital after $180 million was removed from the budget, replaced with only $19 million for maintenance. The Minister acknowledges the broken promise due to financial constraints.
AnsweredQoN 414Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ROYAL PERTH HOSPITAL — REDEVELOPMENT
414. Mr R.H. COOK to the Minister for
Health:
I refer to the minister's
repeated election promise, in both 2008 and 2013, that the government would
redevelop Royal Perth Hospital, and the $180 million that has now been taken
out of the budget for the redevelopment.
(1) Why has the
minister broken his promise?
(2) Why did the
government take $180 million out of the budget for the redevelopment in 2013–14,
only to replace it now with just $19 million for maintenance and enhancement?
(3) Will the
minister now apologise to the people of Western Australia for the Liberal Party's
dishonesty in two consecutive election campaigns?
414. Mr R.H. COOK to the Minister for
Health:
I refer to the minister's
repeated election promise, in both 2008 and 2013, that the government would
redevelop Royal Perth Hospital, and the $180 million that has now been taken
out of the budget for the redevelopment.
(1) Why has the
minister broken his promise?
(2) Why did the
government take $180 million out of the budget for the redevelopment in 2013–14,
only to replace it now with just $19 million for maintenance and enhancement?
(3) Will the
minister now apologise to the people of Western Australia for the Liberal Party's
dishonesty in two consecutive election campaigns?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) The
Premier made the comment, as I stood up, that the previous Labor government
intended to close Royal Perth Hospital as a tertiary hospital. The hospital was
not even going to be there.
It is true that the government made
commitments on two things during the election campaign. One was to retain Royal
Perth Hospital as a tertiary hospital, and that commitment certainly has been
kept. It is a magnificent hospital that will play a key role in health in the
future of this state. The government also committed to constructing a new
building on the north side of the hospital or a major refurbishment of the
existing hospital. There was $180 million in the budget, but that was removed
about a year and a half ago now, in a previous budget, when we needed those
funds for other things. The Premier has gone through the financial situation of
this state. We would love to be able to provide that upgrade to the hospital,
but in the current financial circumstances it is just not possible. It remains
a keen desire of the government and me for the future.
Mr P.C. Tinley : A
keen desire?
Dr K.D. HAMES :
Yes, it remains a keen desire, and it is something I would very much like to
do, but as the person who made that commitment I have to accept that we just do
not currently have the financial capacity to do it. I am sure the people
working at Royal Perth Hospital will be particularly happy with the $19 million,
which addresses some core failings in the hospital system identified in a
recent study. That was the amount recommended as being required to fix these
core problems with the hospital infrastructure, and that will be undertaken.
Premier made the comment, as I stood up, that the previous Labor government
intended to close Royal Perth Hospital as a tertiary hospital. The hospital was
not even going to be there.
It is true that the government made
commitments on two things during the election campaign. One was to retain Royal
Perth Hospital as a tertiary hospital, and that commitment certainly has been
kept. It is a magnificent hospital that will play a key role in health in the
future of this state. The government also committed to constructing a new
building on the north side of the hospital or a major refurbishment of the
existing hospital. There was $180 million in the budget, but that was removed
about a year and a half ago now, in a previous budget, when we needed those
funds for other things. The Premier has gone through the financial situation of
this state. We would love to be able to provide that upgrade to the hospital,
but in the current financial circumstances it is just not possible. It remains
a keen desire of the government and me for the future.
Mr P.C. Tinley : A
keen desire?
Dr K.D. HAMES :
Yes, it remains a keen desire, and it is something I would very much like to
do, but as the person who made that commitment I have to accept that we just do
not currently have the financial capacity to do it. I am sure the people
working at Royal Perth Hospital will be particularly happy with the $19 million,
which addresses some core failings in the hospital system identified in a
recent study. That was the amount recommended as being required to fix these
core problems with the hospital infrastructure, and that will be undertaken.
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