❓ A parliamentary question regarding delays in emergency department upgrades at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Rockingham-Kwinana District Hospital, and potential funding cuts. The Minister deflects, blaming the federal government for funding issues and accusing the questioner of disloyalty.
AnsweredQoN 1095Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to the Premier’s claim in this House earlier this year that the Government was alleviating pressure on our emergency departments by completing capital works upgrades. (1) Is the minister aware that emergency department upgrades at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Rockingham-Kwinana District Hospital were scheduled to be completed by May this year but have fallen well behind schedule? (2) Can the minister confirm that under his new health cutbacks, capital works funding, which has already ground nearly to a halt under this Government, will be cut back even further? (3) How does the minister expect our hospitals to cope without desperately needed capital works upgrades? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) I think the member has the year wrong. The only indication I am aware of is that the emergency department upgrades, which began this year, will be completed in May next year. I suggest that the member is being a little hopeful that we will finish something before we even start it. Generally speaking, that is not humanly possible. Mr M.F. Board: To be quite frank, those upgrades were supposed to start last year. Mr J.A. McGINTY: No. My understanding is that the upgrade at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital was commenced this year with a view to being completed in May next year. As much as we would like to work miracles - some people think we are capable of that - the expected completion date of the upgrade to those two emergency departments is either the first half or the middle of next year. They were commenced at that time in order to meet that time frame. Generally speaking, the amount of money spent on capital works in the public health system is an issue; for instance, the capital investment for the new magnetic resonance imaging machine at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. It is very unfortunate that the federal Liberal Government has not given us a licence to operate that machine, which has imposed even more financial pressure on our public hospitals. If members opposite had gotten behind the children in Western Australia, they might have joined with us, for a change, and said that the federal Government was wrong. They never do that. I understand where they are coming from politically. Their greater allegiance is to Canberra while John Howard is there and they will do a complete backflip when that changes. I thought that they would have gotten behind the Government of Western Australia to go into battle to ensure that we had proper federal funding for the MRI machine at Princess Margaret Hospital. They did not do it. They tried to undermine our position, and they know it. They tried to undermine the position of the State and they did a disservice to everyone associated with the delivery of health care in Western Australia. I have already had occasion to call the member for Murdoch the Benedict Arnold of the health system in Western Australia. He is about treachery and ratting on the people he once supported. The member rats on the people of Western Australia when it comes to supporting our public health system. Our job would have been a lot easier if a bipartisan approach had been taken to the issue of federal funding, rather than members opposite supporting John Howard for taking $110 million out of public hospital funding in this State. We know that the member for Murdoch’s allegiance lies with the Liberal Party and not the people of Western Australia.
(1) Is the minister aware that emergency department upgrades at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Rockingham-Kwinana District Hospital were scheduled to be completed by May this year but have fallen well behind schedule? (2) Can the minister confirm that under his new health cutbacks, capital works funding, which has already ground nearly to a halt under this Government, will be cut back even further? (3) How does the minister expect our hospitals to cope without desperately needed capital works upgrades? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I think the member has the year wrong. The only indication I am aware of is that the emergency department upgrades, which began this year, will be completed in May next year. I suggest that the member is being a little hopeful that we will finish something before we even start it. Generally speaking, that is not humanly possible. Mr M.F. Board: To be quite frank, those upgrades were supposed to start last year. Mr J.A. McGINTY: No. My understanding is that the upgrade at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital was commenced this year with a view to being completed in May next year. As much as we would like to work miracles - some people think we are capable of that - the expected completion date of the upgrade to those two emergency departments is either the first half or the middle of next year. They were commenced at that time in order to meet that time frame. Generally speaking, the amount of money spent on capital works in the public health system is an issue; for instance, the capital investment for the new magnetic resonance imaging machine at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. It is very unfortunate that the federal Liberal Government has not given us a licence to operate that machine, which has imposed even more financial pressure on our public hospitals. If members opposite had gotten behind the children in Western Australia, they might have joined with us, for a change, and said that the federal Government was wrong. They never do that. I understand where they are coming from politically. Their greater allegiance is to Canberra while John Howard is there and they will do a complete backflip when that changes. I thought that they would have gotten behind the Government of Western Australia to go into battle to ensure that we had proper federal funding for the MRI machine at Princess Margaret Hospital. They did not do it. They tried to undermine our position, and they know it. They tried to undermine the position of the State and they did a disservice to everyone associated with the delivery of health care in Western Australia. I have already had occasion to call the member for Murdoch the Benedict Arnold of the health system in Western Australia. He is about treachery and ratting on the people he once supported. The member rats on the people of Western Australia when it comes to supporting our public health system. Our job would have been a lot easier if a bipartisan approach had been taken to the issue of federal funding, rather than members opposite supporting John Howard for taking $110 million out of public hospital funding in this State. We know that the member for Murdoch’s allegiance lies with the Liberal Party and not the people of Western Australia.
(2) Can the minister confirm that under his new health cutbacks, capital works funding, which has already ground nearly to a halt under this Government, will be cut back even further? (3) How does the minister expect our hospitals to cope without desperately needed capital works upgrades? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I think the member has the year wrong. The only indication I am aware of is that the emergency department upgrades, which began this year, will be completed in May next year. I suggest that the member is being a little hopeful that we will finish something before we even start it. Generally speaking, that is not humanly possible. Mr M.F. Board: To be quite frank, those upgrades were supposed to start last year. Mr J.A. McGINTY: No. My understanding is that the upgrade at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital was commenced this year with a view to being completed in May next year. As much as we would like to work miracles - some people think we are capable of that - the expected completion date of the upgrade to those two emergency departments is either the first half or the middle of next year. They were commenced at that time in order to meet that time frame. Generally speaking, the amount of money spent on capital works in the public health system is an issue; for instance, the capital investment for the new magnetic resonance imaging machine at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. It is very unfortunate that the federal Liberal Government has not given us a licence to operate that machine, which has imposed even more financial pressure on our public hospitals. If members opposite had gotten behind the children in Western Australia, they might have joined with us, for a change, and said that the federal Government was wrong. They never do that. I understand where they are coming from politically. Their greater allegiance is to Canberra while John Howard is there and they will do a complete backflip when that changes. I thought that they would have gotten behind the Government of Western Australia to go into battle to ensure that we had proper federal funding for the MRI machine at Princess Margaret Hospital. They did not do it. They tried to undermine our position, and they know it. They tried to undermine the position of the State and they did a disservice to everyone associated with the delivery of health care in Western Australia. I have already had occasion to call the member for Murdoch the Benedict Arnold of the health system in Western Australia. He is about treachery and ratting on the people he once supported. The member rats on the people of Western Australia when it comes to supporting our public health system. Our job would have been a lot easier if a bipartisan approach had been taken to the issue of federal funding, rather than members opposite supporting John Howard for taking $110 million out of public hospital funding in this State. We know that the member for Murdoch’s allegiance lies with the Liberal Party and not the people of Western Australia.
(3) How does the minister expect our hospitals to cope without desperately needed capital works upgrades? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I think the member has the year wrong. The only indication I am aware of is that the emergency department upgrades, which began this year, will be completed in May next year. I suggest that the member is being a little hopeful that we will finish something before we even start it. Generally speaking, that is not humanly possible. Mr M.F. Board: To be quite frank, those upgrades were supposed to start last year. Mr J.A. McGINTY: No. My understanding is that the upgrade at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital was commenced this year with a view to being completed in May next year. As much as we would like to work miracles - some people think we are capable of that - the expected completion date of the upgrade to those two emergency departments is either the first half or the middle of next year. They were commenced at that time in order to meet that time frame. Generally speaking, the amount of money spent on capital works in the public health system is an issue; for instance, the capital investment for the new magnetic resonance imaging machine at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. It is very unfortunate that the federal Liberal Government has not given us a licence to operate that machine, which has imposed even more financial pressure on our public hospitals. If members opposite had gotten behind the children in Western Australia, they might have joined with us, for a change, and said that the federal Government was wrong. They never do that. I understand where they are coming from politically. Their greater allegiance is to Canberra while John Howard is there and they will do a complete backflip when that changes. I thought that they would have gotten behind the Government of Western Australia to go into battle to ensure that we had proper federal funding for the MRI machine at Princess Margaret Hospital. They did not do it. They tried to undermine our position, and they know it. They tried to undermine the position of the State and they did a disservice to everyone associated with the delivery of health care in Western Australia. I have already had occasion to call the member for Murdoch the Benedict Arnold of the health system in Western Australia. He is about treachery and ratting on the people he once supported. The member rats on the people of Western Australia when it comes to supporting our public health system. Our job would have been a lot easier if a bipartisan approach had been taken to the issue of federal funding, rather than members opposite supporting John Howard for taking $110 million out of public hospital funding in this State. We know that the member for Murdoch’s allegiance lies with the Liberal Party and not the people of Western Australia.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I think the member has the year wrong. The only indication I am aware of is that the emergency department upgrades, which began this year, will be completed in May next year. I suggest that the member is being a little hopeful that we will finish something before we even start it. Generally speaking, that is not humanly possible. Mr M.F. Board: To be quite frank, those upgrades were supposed to start last year. Mr J.A. McGINTY: No. My understanding is that the upgrade at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital was commenced this year with a view to being completed in May next year. As much as we would like to work miracles - some people think we are capable of that - the expected completion date of the upgrade to those two emergency departments is either the first half or the middle of next year. They were commenced at that time in order to meet that time frame. Generally speaking, the amount of money spent on capital works in the public health system is an issue; for instance, the capital investment for the new magnetic resonance imaging machine at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. It is very unfortunate that the federal Liberal Government has not given us a licence to operate that machine, which has imposed even more financial pressure on our public hospitals. If members opposite had gotten behind the children in Western Australia, they might have joined with us, for a change, and said that the federal Government was wrong. They never do that. I understand where they are coming from politically. Their greater allegiance is to Canberra while John Howard is there and they will do a complete backflip when that changes. I thought that they would have gotten behind the Government of Western Australia to go into battle to ensure that we had proper federal funding for the MRI machine at Princess Margaret Hospital. They did not do it. They tried to undermine our position, and they know it. They tried to undermine the position of the State and they did a disservice to everyone associated with the delivery of health care in Western Australia. I have already had occasion to call the member for Murdoch the Benedict Arnold of the health system in Western Australia. He is about treachery and ratting on the people he once supported. The member rats on the people of Western Australia when it comes to supporting our public health system. Our job would have been a lot easier if a bipartisan approach had been taken to the issue of federal funding, rather than members opposite supporting John Howard for taking $110 million out of public hospital funding in this State. We know that the member for Murdoch’s allegiance lies with the Liberal Party and not the people of Western Australia.
(1)-(3) I think the member has the year wrong. The only indication I am aware of is that the emergency department upgrades, which began this year, will be completed in May next year. I suggest that the member is being a little hopeful that we will finish something before we even start it. Generally speaking, that is not humanly possible. Mr M.F. Board: To be quite frank, those upgrades were supposed to start last year. Mr J.A. McGINTY: No. My understanding is that the upgrade at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital was commenced this year with a view to being completed in May next year. As much as we would like to work miracles - some people think we are capable of that - the expected completion date of the upgrade to those two emergency departments is either the first half or the middle of next year. They were commenced at that time in order to meet that time frame. Generally speaking, the amount of money spent on capital works in the public health system is an issue; for instance, the capital investment for the new magnetic resonance imaging machine at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. It is very unfortunate that the federal Liberal Government has not given us a licence to operate that machine, which has imposed even more financial pressure on our public hospitals. If members opposite had gotten behind the children in Western Australia, they might have joined with us, for a change, and said that the federal Government was wrong. They never do that. I understand where they are coming from politically. Their greater allegiance is to Canberra while John Howard is there and they will do a complete backflip when that changes. I thought that they would have gotten behind the Government of Western Australia to go into battle to ensure that we had proper federal funding for the MRI machine at Princess Margaret Hospital. They did not do it. They tried to undermine our position, and they know it. They tried to undermine the position of the State and they did a disservice to everyone associated with the delivery of health care in Western Australia. I have already had occasion to call the member for Murdoch the Benedict Arnold of the health system in Western Australia. He is about treachery and ratting on the people he once supported. The member rats on the people of Western Australia when it comes to supporting our public health system. Our job would have been a lot easier if a bipartisan approach had been taken to the issue of federal funding, rather than members opposite supporting John Howard for taking $110 million out of public hospital funding in this State. We know that the member for Murdoch’s allegiance lies with the Liberal Party and not the people of Western Australia.
Mr M.F. Board: To be quite frank, those upgrades were supposed to start last year. Mr J.A. McGINTY: No. My understanding is that the upgrade at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital was commenced this year with a view to being completed in May next year. As much as we would like to work miracles - some people think we are capable of that - the expected completion date of the upgrade to those two emergency departments is either the first half or the middle of next year. They were commenced at that time in order to meet that time frame. Generally speaking, the amount of money spent on capital works in the public health system is an issue; for instance, the capital investment for the new magnetic resonance imaging machine at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. It is very unfortunate that the federal Liberal Government has not given us a licence to operate that machine, which has imposed even more financial pressure on our public hospitals. If members opposite had gotten behind the children in Western Australia, they might have joined with us, for a change, and said that the federal Government was wrong. They never do that. I understand where they are coming from politically. Their greater allegiance is to Canberra while John Howard is there and they will do a complete backflip when that changes. I thought that they would have gotten behind the Government of Western Australia to go into battle to ensure that we had proper federal funding for the MRI machine at Princess Margaret Hospital. They did not do it. They tried to undermine our position, and they know it. They tried to undermine the position of the State and they did a disservice to everyone associated with the delivery of health care in Western Australia. I have already had occasion to call the member for Murdoch the Benedict Arnold of the health system in Western Australia. He is about treachery and ratting on the people he once supported. The member rats on the people of Western Australia when it comes to supporting our public health system. Our job would have been a lot easier if a bipartisan approach had been taken to the issue of federal funding, rather than members opposite supporting John Howard for taking $110 million out of public hospital funding in this State. We know that the member for Murdoch’s allegiance lies with the Liberal Party and not the people of Western Australia.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: No. My understanding is that the upgrade at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital was commenced this year with a view to being completed in May next year. As much as we would like to work miracles - some people think we are capable of that - the expected completion date of the upgrade to those two emergency departments is either the first half or the middle of next year. They were commenced at that time in order to meet that time frame. Generally speaking, the amount of money spent on capital works in the public health system is an issue; for instance, the capital investment for the new magnetic resonance imaging machine at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. It is very unfortunate that the federal Liberal Government has not given us a licence to operate that machine, which has imposed even more financial pressure on our public hospitals. If members opposite had gotten behind the children in Western Australia, they might have joined with us, for a change, and said that the federal Government was wrong. They never do that. I understand where they are coming from politically. Their greater allegiance is to Canberra while John Howard is there and they will do a complete backflip when that changes. I thought that they would have gotten behind the Government of Western Australia to go into battle to ensure that we had proper federal funding for the MRI machine at Princess Margaret Hospital. They did not do it. They tried to undermine our position, and they know it. They tried to undermine the position of the State and they did a disservice to everyone associated with the delivery of health care in Western Australia. I have already had occasion to call the member for Murdoch the Benedict Arnold of the health system in Western Australia. He is about treachery and ratting on the people he once supported. The member rats on the people of Western Australia when it comes to supporting our public health system. Our job would have been a lot easier if a bipartisan approach had been taken to the issue of federal funding, rather than members opposite supporting John Howard for taking $110 million out of public hospital funding in this State. We know that the member for Murdoch’s allegiance lies with the Liberal Party and not the people of Western Australia.
Generally speaking, the amount of money spent on capital works in the public health system is an issue; for instance, the capital investment for the new magnetic resonance imaging machine at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. It is very unfortunate that the federal Liberal Government has not given us a licence to operate that machine, which has imposed even more financial pressure on our public hospitals. If members opposite had gotten behind the children in Western Australia, they might have joined with us, for a change, and said that the federal Government was wrong. They never do that. I understand where they are coming from politically. Their greater allegiance is to Canberra while John Howard is there and they will do a complete backflip when that changes. I thought that they would have gotten behind the Government of Western Australia to go into battle to ensure that we had proper federal funding for the MRI machine at Princess Margaret Hospital. They did not do it. They tried to undermine our position, and they know it. They tried to undermine the position of the State and they did a disservice to everyone associated with the delivery of health care in Western Australia. I have already had occasion to call the member for Murdoch the Benedict Arnold of the health system in Western Australia. He is about treachery and ratting on the people he once supported. The member rats on the people of Western Australia when it comes to supporting our public health system. Our job would have been a lot easier if a bipartisan approach had been taken to the issue of federal funding, rather than members opposite supporting John Howard for taking $110 million out of public hospital funding in this State. We know that the member for Murdoch’s allegiance lies with the Liberal Party and not the people of Western Australia.
I have already had occasion to call the member for Murdoch the Benedict Arnold of the health system in Western Australia. He is about treachery and ratting on the people he once supported. The member rats on the people of Western Australia when it comes to supporting our public health system. Our job would have been a lot easier if a bipartisan approach had been taken to the issue of federal funding, rather than members opposite supporting John Howard for taking $110 million out of public hospital funding in this State. We know that the member for Murdoch’s allegiance lies with the Liberal Party and not the people of Western Australia.
(1) Is the minister aware that emergency department upgrades at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Rockingham-Kwinana District Hospital were scheduled to be completed by May this year but have fallen well behind schedule? (2) Can the minister confirm that under his new health cutbacks, capital works funding, which has already ground nearly to a halt under this Government, will be cut back even further? (3) How does the minister expect our hospitals to cope without desperately needed capital works upgrades? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I think the member has the year wrong. The only indication I am aware of is that the emergency department upgrades, which began this year, will be completed in May next year. I suggest that the member is being a little hopeful that we will finish something before we even start it. Generally speaking, that is not humanly possible. Mr M.F. Board: To be quite frank, those upgrades were supposed to start last year. Mr J.A. McGINTY: No. My understanding is that the upgrade at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital was commenced this year with a view to being completed in May next year. As much as we would like to work miracles - some people think we are capable of that - the expected completion date of the upgrade to those two emergency departments is either the first half or the middle of next year. They were commenced at that time in order to meet that time frame. Generally speaking, the amount of money spent on capital works in the public health system is an issue; for instance, the capital investment for the new magnetic resonance imaging machine at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. It is very unfortunate that the federal Liberal Government has not given us a licence to operate that machine, which has imposed even more financial pressure on our public hospitals. If members opposite had gotten behind the children in Western Australia, they might have joined with us, for a change, and said that the federal Government was wrong. They never do that. I understand where they are coming from politically. Their greater allegiance is to Canberra while John Howard is there and they will do a complete backflip when that changes. I thought that they would have gotten behind the Government of Western Australia to go into battle to ensure that we had proper federal funding for the MRI machine at Princess Margaret Hospital. They did not do it. They tried to undermine our position, and they know it. They tried to undermine the position of the State and they did a disservice to everyone associated with the delivery of health care in Western Australia. I have already had occasion to call the member for Murdoch the Benedict Arnold of the health system in Western Australia. He is about treachery and ratting on the people he once supported. The member rats on the people of Western Australia when it comes to supporting our public health system. Our job would have been a lot easier if a bipartisan approach had been taken to the issue of federal funding, rather than members opposite supporting John Howard for taking $110 million out of public hospital funding in this State. We know that the member for Murdoch’s allegiance lies with the Liberal Party and not the people of Western Australia.
(2) Can the minister confirm that under his new health cutbacks, capital works funding, which has already ground nearly to a halt under this Government, will be cut back even further? (3) How does the minister expect our hospitals to cope without desperately needed capital works upgrades? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I think the member has the year wrong. The only indication I am aware of is that the emergency department upgrades, which began this year, will be completed in May next year. I suggest that the member is being a little hopeful that we will finish something before we even start it. Generally speaking, that is not humanly possible. Mr M.F. Board: To be quite frank, those upgrades were supposed to start last year. Mr J.A. McGINTY: No. My understanding is that the upgrade at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital was commenced this year with a view to being completed in May next year. As much as we would like to work miracles - some people think we are capable of that - the expected completion date of the upgrade to those two emergency departments is either the first half or the middle of next year. They were commenced at that time in order to meet that time frame. Generally speaking, the amount of money spent on capital works in the public health system is an issue; for instance, the capital investment for the new magnetic resonance imaging machine at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. It is very unfortunate that the federal Liberal Government has not given us a licence to operate that machine, which has imposed even more financial pressure on our public hospitals. If members opposite had gotten behind the children in Western Australia, they might have joined with us, for a change, and said that the federal Government was wrong. They never do that. I understand where they are coming from politically. Their greater allegiance is to Canberra while John Howard is there and they will do a complete backflip when that changes. I thought that they would have gotten behind the Government of Western Australia to go into battle to ensure that we had proper federal funding for the MRI machine at Princess Margaret Hospital. They did not do it. They tried to undermine our position, and they know it. They tried to undermine the position of the State and they did a disservice to everyone associated with the delivery of health care in Western Australia. I have already had occasion to call the member for Murdoch the Benedict Arnold of the health system in Western Australia. He is about treachery and ratting on the people he once supported. The member rats on the people of Western Australia when it comes to supporting our public health system. Our job would have been a lot easier if a bipartisan approach had been taken to the issue of federal funding, rather than members opposite supporting John Howard for taking $110 million out of public hospital funding in this State. We know that the member for Murdoch’s allegiance lies with the Liberal Party and not the people of Western Australia.
(3) How does the minister expect our hospitals to cope without desperately needed capital works upgrades? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I think the member has the year wrong. The only indication I am aware of is that the emergency department upgrades, which began this year, will be completed in May next year. I suggest that the member is being a little hopeful that we will finish something before we even start it. Generally speaking, that is not humanly possible. Mr M.F. Board: To be quite frank, those upgrades were supposed to start last year. Mr J.A. McGINTY: No. My understanding is that the upgrade at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital was commenced this year with a view to being completed in May next year. As much as we would like to work miracles - some people think we are capable of that - the expected completion date of the upgrade to those two emergency departments is either the first half or the middle of next year. They were commenced at that time in order to meet that time frame. Generally speaking, the amount of money spent on capital works in the public health system is an issue; for instance, the capital investment for the new magnetic resonance imaging machine at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. It is very unfortunate that the federal Liberal Government has not given us a licence to operate that machine, which has imposed even more financial pressure on our public hospitals. If members opposite had gotten behind the children in Western Australia, they might have joined with us, for a change, and said that the federal Government was wrong. They never do that. I understand where they are coming from politically. Their greater allegiance is to Canberra while John Howard is there and they will do a complete backflip when that changes. I thought that they would have gotten behind the Government of Western Australia to go into battle to ensure that we had proper federal funding for the MRI machine at Princess Margaret Hospital. They did not do it. They tried to undermine our position, and they know it. They tried to undermine the position of the State and they did a disservice to everyone associated with the delivery of health care in Western Australia. I have already had occasion to call the member for Murdoch the Benedict Arnold of the health system in Western Australia. He is about treachery and ratting on the people he once supported. The member rats on the people of Western Australia when it comes to supporting our public health system. Our job would have been a lot easier if a bipartisan approach had been taken to the issue of federal funding, rather than members opposite supporting John Howard for taking $110 million out of public hospital funding in this State. We know that the member for Murdoch’s allegiance lies with the Liberal Party and not the people of Western Australia.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I think the member has the year wrong. The only indication I am aware of is that the emergency department upgrades, which began this year, will be completed in May next year. I suggest that the member is being a little hopeful that we will finish something before we even start it. Generally speaking, that is not humanly possible. Mr M.F. Board: To be quite frank, those upgrades were supposed to start last year. Mr J.A. McGINTY: No. My understanding is that the upgrade at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital was commenced this year with a view to being completed in May next year. As much as we would like to work miracles - some people think we are capable of that - the expected completion date of the upgrade to those two emergency departments is either the first half or the middle of next year. They were commenced at that time in order to meet that time frame. Generally speaking, the amount of money spent on capital works in the public health system is an issue; for instance, the capital investment for the new magnetic resonance imaging machine at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. It is very unfortunate that the federal Liberal Government has not given us a licence to operate that machine, which has imposed even more financial pressure on our public hospitals. If members opposite had gotten behind the children in Western Australia, they might have joined with us, for a change, and said that the federal Government was wrong. They never do that. I understand where they are coming from politically. Their greater allegiance is to Canberra while John Howard is there and they will do a complete backflip when that changes. I thought that they would have gotten behind the Government of Western Australia to go into battle to ensure that we had proper federal funding for the MRI machine at Princess Margaret Hospital. They did not do it. They tried to undermine our position, and they know it. They tried to undermine the position of the State and they did a disservice to everyone associated with the delivery of health care in Western Australia. I have already had occasion to call the member for Murdoch the Benedict Arnold of the health system in Western Australia. He is about treachery and ratting on the people he once supported. The member rats on the people of Western Australia when it comes to supporting our public health system. Our job would have been a lot easier if a bipartisan approach had been taken to the issue of federal funding, rather than members opposite supporting John Howard for taking $110 million out of public hospital funding in this State. We know that the member for Murdoch’s allegiance lies with the Liberal Party and not the people of Western Australia.
(1)-(3) I think the member has the year wrong. The only indication I am aware of is that the emergency department upgrades, which began this year, will be completed in May next year. I suggest that the member is being a little hopeful that we will finish something before we even start it. Generally speaking, that is not humanly possible. Mr M.F. Board: To be quite frank, those upgrades were supposed to start last year. Mr J.A. McGINTY: No. My understanding is that the upgrade at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital was commenced this year with a view to being completed in May next year. As much as we would like to work miracles - some people think we are capable of that - the expected completion date of the upgrade to those two emergency departments is either the first half or the middle of next year. They were commenced at that time in order to meet that time frame. Generally speaking, the amount of money spent on capital works in the public health system is an issue; for instance, the capital investment for the new magnetic resonance imaging machine at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. It is very unfortunate that the federal Liberal Government has not given us a licence to operate that machine, which has imposed even more financial pressure on our public hospitals. If members opposite had gotten behind the children in Western Australia, they might have joined with us, for a change, and said that the federal Government was wrong. They never do that. I understand where they are coming from politically. Their greater allegiance is to Canberra while John Howard is there and they will do a complete backflip when that changes. I thought that they would have gotten behind the Government of Western Australia to go into battle to ensure that we had proper federal funding for the MRI machine at Princess Margaret Hospital. They did not do it. They tried to undermine our position, and they know it. They tried to undermine the position of the State and they did a disservice to everyone associated with the delivery of health care in Western Australia. I have already had occasion to call the member for Murdoch the Benedict Arnold of the health system in Western Australia. He is about treachery and ratting on the people he once supported. The member rats on the people of Western Australia when it comes to supporting our public health system. Our job would have been a lot easier if a bipartisan approach had been taken to the issue of federal funding, rather than members opposite supporting John Howard for taking $110 million out of public hospital funding in this State. We know that the member for Murdoch’s allegiance lies with the Liberal Party and not the people of Western Australia.
Mr M.F. Board: To be quite frank, those upgrades were supposed to start last year. Mr J.A. McGINTY: No. My understanding is that the upgrade at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital was commenced this year with a view to being completed in May next year. As much as we would like to work miracles - some people think we are capable of that - the expected completion date of the upgrade to those two emergency departments is either the first half or the middle of next year. They were commenced at that time in order to meet that time frame. Generally speaking, the amount of money spent on capital works in the public health system is an issue; for instance, the capital investment for the new magnetic resonance imaging machine at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. It is very unfortunate that the federal Liberal Government has not given us a licence to operate that machine, which has imposed even more financial pressure on our public hospitals. If members opposite had gotten behind the children in Western Australia, they might have joined with us, for a change, and said that the federal Government was wrong. They never do that. I understand where they are coming from politically. Their greater allegiance is to Canberra while John Howard is there and they will do a complete backflip when that changes. I thought that they would have gotten behind the Government of Western Australia to go into battle to ensure that we had proper federal funding for the MRI machine at Princess Margaret Hospital. They did not do it. They tried to undermine our position, and they know it. They tried to undermine the position of the State and they did a disservice to everyone associated with the delivery of health care in Western Australia. I have already had occasion to call the member for Murdoch the Benedict Arnold of the health system in Western Australia. He is about treachery and ratting on the people he once supported. The member rats on the people of Western Australia when it comes to supporting our public health system. Our job would have been a lot easier if a bipartisan approach had been taken to the issue of federal funding, rather than members opposite supporting John Howard for taking $110 million out of public hospital funding in this State. We know that the member for Murdoch’s allegiance lies with the Liberal Party and not the people of Western Australia.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: No. My understanding is that the upgrade at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital was commenced this year with a view to being completed in May next year. As much as we would like to work miracles - some people think we are capable of that - the expected completion date of the upgrade to those two emergency departments is either the first half or the middle of next year. They were commenced at that time in order to meet that time frame. Generally speaking, the amount of money spent on capital works in the public health system is an issue; for instance, the capital investment for the new magnetic resonance imaging machine at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. It is very unfortunate that the federal Liberal Government has not given us a licence to operate that machine, which has imposed even more financial pressure on our public hospitals. If members opposite had gotten behind the children in Western Australia, they might have joined with us, for a change, and said that the federal Government was wrong. They never do that. I understand where they are coming from politically. Their greater allegiance is to Canberra while John Howard is there and they will do a complete backflip when that changes. I thought that they would have gotten behind the Government of Western Australia to go into battle to ensure that we had proper federal funding for the MRI machine at Princess Margaret Hospital. They did not do it. They tried to undermine our position, and they know it. They tried to undermine the position of the State and they did a disservice to everyone associated with the delivery of health care in Western Australia. I have already had occasion to call the member for Murdoch the Benedict Arnold of the health system in Western Australia. He is about treachery and ratting on the people he once supported. The member rats on the people of Western Australia when it comes to supporting our public health system. Our job would have been a lot easier if a bipartisan approach had been taken to the issue of federal funding, rather than members opposite supporting John Howard for taking $110 million out of public hospital funding in this State. We know that the member for Murdoch’s allegiance lies with the Liberal Party and not the people of Western Australia.
Generally speaking, the amount of money spent on capital works in the public health system is an issue; for instance, the capital investment for the new magnetic resonance imaging machine at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. It is very unfortunate that the federal Liberal Government has not given us a licence to operate that machine, which has imposed even more financial pressure on our public hospitals. If members opposite had gotten behind the children in Western Australia, they might have joined with us, for a change, and said that the federal Government was wrong. They never do that. I understand where they are coming from politically. Their greater allegiance is to Canberra while John Howard is there and they will do a complete backflip when that changes. I thought that they would have gotten behind the Government of Western Australia to go into battle to ensure that we had proper federal funding for the MRI machine at Princess Margaret Hospital. They did not do it. They tried to undermine our position, and they know it. They tried to undermine the position of the State and they did a disservice to everyone associated with the delivery of health care in Western Australia. I have already had occasion to call the member for Murdoch the Benedict Arnold of the health system in Western Australia. He is about treachery and ratting on the people he once supported. The member rats on the people of Western Australia when it comes to supporting our public health system. Our job would have been a lot easier if a bipartisan approach had been taken to the issue of federal funding, rather than members opposite supporting John Howard for taking $110 million out of public hospital funding in this State. We know that the member for Murdoch’s allegiance lies with the Liberal Party and not the people of Western Australia.
I have already had occasion to call the member for Murdoch the Benedict Arnold of the health system in Western Australia. He is about treachery and ratting on the people he once supported. The member rats on the people of Western Australia when it comes to supporting our public health system. Our job would have been a lot easier if a bipartisan approach had been taken to the issue of federal funding, rather than members opposite supporting John Howard for taking $110 million out of public hospital funding in this State. We know that the member for Murdoch’s allegiance lies with the Liberal Party and not the people of Western Australia.
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