❓ Question regarding the Cook Labor government's investment in healthcare, specifically the new women's and babies' hospital. The Minister's answer focuses on the contract signing, project timeline, and criticisms of the opposition's alternative proposal.
AnsweredQoN 164Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Health—Infrastructure investment
164. Mr David Scaife to the Minister for Health Infrastructure:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's $14.3 billion investment in healthcare services. Can the
minister outline to the house how this investment, as exemplified by the
signing of the contract to build the new women's and babies' hospital, is
delivering for Western Australia?
164. Mr David Scaife to the Minister for Health Infrastructure:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's $14.3 billion investment in healthcare services. Can the
minister outline to the house how this investment, as exemplified by the
signing of the contract to build the new women's and babies' hospital, is
delivering for Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for
his question. There are milestones in political life and today was one of those
for Western Australia together with the Premier, Deputy Premier and the
Minister for Health, I signed a $1.8 billion design and construct contract for
the new women's and babies' hospital and the significant expansion of Osborne
Park Hospital. I am not a parent, but I recently talked to a young mother of two
children. We were talking about this project and our health investment
generally, and she told me that during pregnancy, as women say from time to
time, she felt incredibly vulnerable. It is sometimes a scary place for mums
and babies. This new women's and babies' hospital is a critical investment in a
hospital service that will enable people like that young woman to feel safe and
secure. They will know that they have the best hospital at their hands and that
they have a choice because we are including a new birthing centre. I will say
this: the timeline is clear.
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
Mr John Carey: Only in the last two weeks, the former
Leader of the Liberal Party, the member for Vasse, commented that there would
be six months more time of negotiation. She said on the record here that there
would be six months more of negotiation.
Several members
interjected.
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
The Speaker: Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party!
Mr John Carey: It would appear that the member is
accusing me of lying or misleading the house. I heard the words directly from her
mouth last week, as did others in this chamber. She also proposed that the
timeframe would be well beyond.
Mr Basil Zempilas: You said the timeline's
clear. What's the timeline, minister?
Mr John Carey: It is 2029.
Mr Basil Zempilas: In 2029?
Mr John Carey: Yes.
I want be clear. I
understand now —
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Minister, just wait. Is everyone
finished? Carry on, minister.
Mr John Carey: We also need to be reminded that had we
adopted the—I cannot call it a plan because it was not a detailed plan.
It was a flimsy piece of paper that reminded me of an assignment with someone
trying to fill out a cover sheet at the front and back.
Mr David Michael interjected.
Mr John Carey: Yes, with ChatGPT and AI and a lot of
spacing. I mean, we all know the tricks from our years at primary school and
high school.
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: Double spacing!
Mr John Carey: Yes, double spacing.
Had we adopted the
Liberal Party's proposal, it would be the mid-2030s at least before we had a
new women's and babies' hospital. I remind members of this: without any
pressure or prompting or journalists hounding the member for Vasse, she
voluntarily said that the last election was a referendum on this issue.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Vasse! Perhaps you could
conclude your comments please, minister. That would be great.
Mr John Carey: As members can see —
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
Mr John Carey: As members can see, I have touched on a
very sore point. I understand that the member for Vasse will go down in history
as one of the worst Liberal leaders and that that was part of her referendum.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Thank you, members.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Thank you, members!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition and Treasurer.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition. Thank you. Your
concluding comments, thanks minister.
Mr John Carey: Can I say that I might deeply regret
that comment and I would like to retract it!
The point I am making
is this: the people have spoken, the mandate has been given and the contract
has been signed. Only a Cook Labor government will deliver a new women's and
babies' hospital.
his question. There are milestones in political life and today was one of those
for Western Australia together with the Premier, Deputy Premier and the
Minister for Health, I signed a $1.8 billion design and construct contract for
the new women's and babies' hospital and the significant expansion of Osborne
Park Hospital. I am not a parent, but I recently talked to a young mother of two
children. We were talking about this project and our health investment
generally, and she told me that during pregnancy, as women say from time to
time, she felt incredibly vulnerable. It is sometimes a scary place for mums
and babies. This new women's and babies' hospital is a critical investment in a
hospital service that will enable people like that young woman to feel safe and
secure. They will know that they have the best hospital at their hands and that
they have a choice because we are including a new birthing centre. I will say
this: the timeline is clear.
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
Mr John Carey: Only in the last two weeks, the former
Leader of the Liberal Party, the member for Vasse, commented that there would
be six months more time of negotiation. She said on the record here that there
would be six months more of negotiation.
Several members
interjected.
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
The Speaker: Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party!
Mr John Carey: It would appear that the member is
accusing me of lying or misleading the house. I heard the words directly from her
mouth last week, as did others in this chamber. She also proposed that the
timeframe would be well beyond.
Mr Basil Zempilas: You said the timeline's
clear. What's the timeline, minister?
Mr John Carey: It is 2029.
Mr Basil Zempilas: In 2029?
Mr John Carey: Yes.
I want be clear. I
understand now —
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Minister, just wait. Is everyone
finished? Carry on, minister.
Mr John Carey: We also need to be reminded that had we
adopted the—I cannot call it a plan because it was not a detailed plan.
It was a flimsy piece of paper that reminded me of an assignment with someone
trying to fill out a cover sheet at the front and back.
Mr David Michael interjected.
Mr John Carey: Yes, with ChatGPT and AI and a lot of
spacing. I mean, we all know the tricks from our years at primary school and
high school.
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: Double spacing!
Mr John Carey: Yes, double spacing.
Had we adopted the
Liberal Party's proposal, it would be the mid-2030s at least before we had a
new women's and babies' hospital. I remind members of this: without any
pressure or prompting or journalists hounding the member for Vasse, she
voluntarily said that the last election was a referendum on this issue.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Vasse! Perhaps you could
conclude your comments please, minister. That would be great.
Mr John Carey: As members can see —
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
Mr John Carey: As members can see, I have touched on a
very sore point. I understand that the member for Vasse will go down in history
as one of the worst Liberal leaders and that that was part of her referendum.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Thank you, members.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Thank you, members!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition and Treasurer.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition. Thank you. Your
concluding comments, thanks minister.
Mr John Carey: Can I say that I might deeply regret
that comment and I would like to retract it!
The point I am making
is this: the people have spoken, the mandate has been given and the contract
has been signed. Only a Cook Labor government will deliver a new women's and
babies' hospital.
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