❓ Minister Carey provides an update on the new women's and babies' hospital project, highlighting progress and contrasting it with the opposition's previous plans. He emphasises the government's commitment to health infrastructure investment.
AnsweredQoN 542Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Women's and babies' hospital
542. Mrs Michelle Maynard to the Minister for Health Infrastructure:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to ensuring that Western Australians can access
the health care they need when they need it.
(1) Can the minister update the house on the
delivery of the new women's and babies' hospital?
(2) Can he also advise how this project will
support the health and wellbeing of Western Australian women, babies and
families for decades to come?
542. Mrs Michelle Maynard to the Minister for Health Infrastructure:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to ensuring that Western Australians can access
the health care they need when they need it.
(1) Can the minister update the house on the
delivery of the new women's and babies' hospital?
(2) Can he also advise how this project will
support the health and wellbeing of Western Australian women, babies and
families for decades to come?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for her
question. As a government, we are undertaking systematic investment across our
hospital system—$3.7 billion for the health infrastructure program—transforming
smaller hospitals like Mullewa Hospital and Laverton Hospital and undertaking larger
scale regional hospital projects like Geraldton Health Campus and Bunbury
Regional Hospital. Of course, we have our major metropolitan program, which
includes the new women's and babies' hospital. That is a $1.8 billion
investment to build the new women's and babies' hospital and also to upgrade
and expand the infrastructure at Osborne Park Hospital.
Today I joined the Premier, the Minister
for Health and the Deputy Premier to signal a milestone for the women's and
babies' hospital. There were two things. Firstly, we revealed the design for
the 12-storey hospital with 274 beds, and it looks stunning. Secondly, and
critically, the works are underway. If members go there now, they will see the
earthworks that are being undertaken. Over the coming months the central piling
will start, with other works proceeding from that. That is being done through
the Office of Major Infrastructure Delivery. We are looking at how we do all
our projects. This project is on schedule to open in 2029. As a state
government, we are deeply proud that we are getting on with this project.
Do members remember the
alternative plan proposed by the WA Liberals at the last election? The
alternative plan would have meant that the works happening right now would not
be happening. They would be off into the never-never. It certainly would not be
delivered in this term of government.
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Vasse.
Mr John Carey: In fact, I remember that under no
pressure at all, the Leader of the Liberal Party at the time said that the
state election was a referendum on the site.
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Vasse, please stop
interjecting.
Mr John Carey: I
note that no-one put the Leader of the Liberal Party under pressure at the
time. She voluntarily said that. It did not come from our side. She said it was
a referendum on the site selection. There was a referendum and Western
Australians voted for a Cook Labor government and for the delivery—
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Vasse! Interjections are
unwarranted.
Mr John Carey: Western Australians voted for the
delivery of the hospital, and it is now underway. The choice was clear and the
people of Western Australia spoke.
We can look at all
the other plans such as the AI-generated Royal Perth Hospital plans that
included a three-legged person, because that is what happens when using AI
graphics—three-legged people pop up in the graphics, but, hey, that is
okay; a lot of three-legged people go to hospital!
Several members
interjected.
Mr John Carey: They are getting their third leg
removed! The Liberal Party had three-legged people in its plan and under that
plan Royal Perth Hospital was going to be planned, with no development in the
first four years. There is a sharp difference between members on that side, who
pushed hospital infrastructure projects off into the never-never, and members
on this side of politics, who are getting on with the job of delivering
hospital infrastructure.
question. As a government, we are undertaking systematic investment across our
hospital system—$3.7 billion for the health infrastructure program—transforming
smaller hospitals like Mullewa Hospital and Laverton Hospital and undertaking larger
scale regional hospital projects like Geraldton Health Campus and Bunbury
Regional Hospital. Of course, we have our major metropolitan program, which
includes the new women's and babies' hospital. That is a $1.8 billion
investment to build the new women's and babies' hospital and also to upgrade
and expand the infrastructure at Osborne Park Hospital.
Today I joined the Premier, the Minister
for Health and the Deputy Premier to signal a milestone for the women's and
babies' hospital. There were two things. Firstly, we revealed the design for
the 12-storey hospital with 274 beds, and it looks stunning. Secondly, and
critically, the works are underway. If members go there now, they will see the
earthworks that are being undertaken. Over the coming months the central piling
will start, with other works proceeding from that. That is being done through
the Office of Major Infrastructure Delivery. We are looking at how we do all
our projects. This project is on schedule to open in 2029. As a state
government, we are deeply proud that we are getting on with this project.
Do members remember the
alternative plan proposed by the WA Liberals at the last election? The
alternative plan would have meant that the works happening right now would not
be happening. They would be off into the never-never. It certainly would not be
delivered in this term of government.
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Vasse.
Mr John Carey: In fact, I remember that under no
pressure at all, the Leader of the Liberal Party at the time said that the
state election was a referendum on the site.
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Vasse, please stop
interjecting.
Mr John Carey: I
note that no-one put the Leader of the Liberal Party under pressure at the
time. She voluntarily said that. It did not come from our side. She said it was
a referendum on the site selection. There was a referendum and Western
Australians voted for a Cook Labor government and for the delivery—
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Vasse! Interjections are
unwarranted.
Mr John Carey: Western Australians voted for the
delivery of the hospital, and it is now underway. The choice was clear and the
people of Western Australia spoke.
We can look at all
the other plans such as the AI-generated Royal Perth Hospital plans that
included a three-legged person, because that is what happens when using AI
graphics—three-legged people pop up in the graphics, but, hey, that is
okay; a lot of three-legged people go to hospital!
Several members
interjected.
Mr John Carey: They are getting their third leg
removed! The Liberal Party had three-legged people in its plan and under that
plan Royal Perth Hospital was going to be planned, with no development in the
first four years. There is a sharp difference between members on that side, who
pushed hospital infrastructure projects off into the never-never, and members
on this side of politics, who are getting on with the job of delivering
hospital infrastructure.
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