❓ Ms Shaw questions the Minister for Health about affordable MRI access at Midland Public Hospital and urges the federal government to match Labor's funding commitment. The Minister responds by highlighting Labor's commitment and criticising the federal government's lack of action, while also engaging in political sparring with the Member for Bateman.
AnsweredQoN 638Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MIDLAND PUBLIC HOSPITAL —
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SERVICES
638. Ms J.J. SHAW to the Minister for Health:
I refer to those people in my
electorate and across the eastern suburbs who have no affordable access to
magnetic resonance imaging services at Midland Public Hospital.
(1) Can the
minister advise the house what a fully licensed MRI service would mean for
those across the eastern suburbs?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house the reasons that the federal government should
match federal Labor's commitment to a fully funded MRI licence at
Midland hospital?
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SERVICES
638. Ms J.J. SHAW to the Minister for Health:
I refer to those people in my
electorate and across the eastern suburbs who have no affordable access to
magnetic resonance imaging services at Midland Public Hospital.
(1) Can the
minister advise the house what a fully licensed MRI service would mean for
those across the eastern suburbs?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house the reasons that the federal government should
match federal Labor's commitment to a fully funded MRI licence at
Midland hospital?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question
and acknowledge her and the member for Kalamunda's tireless advocacy
for the extension of the magnetic resonance imaging services licence at Midland
Public Hospital, and also Hon Matthew Swinbourn, who has been active on this
issue as well.
(1)–(2) Health
is the most important service that a government can provide. It underpins the
wellbeing of people in the community, and that is true —
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
Mr R.H. COOK : That is as true
for the people of the north-eastern suburbs as it is for any other people. It
is important that people in the north-eastern suburbs have access to a full-time
MRI licence so that those families do not have to travel out of their community
and fork out large payments —
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Bateman, I call
you to order for the first time. I let you get away with it the first time.
Mr R.H. COOK : We do not want
people to have travel out of their community to get to these important
services. We are committed to making sure that we put the patients first and
provide the services they need. I am very pleased to say that the federal
Leader of the Opposition, Bill Shorten, shares our commitment to putting
patients first. I was delighted to see recently that federal Labor has
committed in government to providing a full-time licence for an MRI machine at
Midland hospital. I know the member for Bateman is supportive of this because
he has been nodding and murmuring and making positive noises the entire way, so
I am sure that the member for Bateman is as bemused, disappointed and angry as
we are —
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr R.H. COOK : I am sure that
he is as angry as we are that the federal government has allocated just five MRI
licences in the past five years nationally. In addition, the member for Bateman
would be outraged to hear that Western Australia, on a population basis, has
the lowest allocation of MRI licences in the nation.
Ms S.F. McGurk : Has he done
any advocacy?
Mr R.H. COOK : I wonder whether the member for Bateman has done
any advocacy and I wonder whether he cares about the people of the north-eastern
suburbs. His comments now are just showing his utter contempt as he makes smart
alec remarks about essential health services for people in the north-eastern
suburbs. I have written to federal Minister for Health and Ageing Greg Hunt to
ask the federal government to match the commitment from federal Labor to ensure
that in addition to the commitment it has made around backing our promise on
the Kalgoorlie MRI licence, it will also do so for the people of the north-eastern
suburbs. The Australian Bureau of Statistics census demonstrated that
Ellenbrook was one of the fastest growing regions in Western Australia. The
people and families of that area deserve a full-time MRI licence. They will get
it if we have a federal Labor government come the next federal election. We are
looking to the federal Liberal government to match that commitment.
and acknowledge her and the member for Kalamunda's tireless advocacy
for the extension of the magnetic resonance imaging services licence at Midland
Public Hospital, and also Hon Matthew Swinbourn, who has been active on this
issue as well.
(1)–(2) Health
is the most important service that a government can provide. It underpins the
wellbeing of people in the community, and that is true —
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
Mr R.H. COOK : That is as true
for the people of the north-eastern suburbs as it is for any other people. It
is important that people in the north-eastern suburbs have access to a full-time
MRI licence so that those families do not have to travel out of their community
and fork out large payments —
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Bateman, I call
you to order for the first time. I let you get away with it the first time.
Mr R.H. COOK : We do not want
people to have travel out of their community to get to these important
services. We are committed to making sure that we put the patients first and
provide the services they need. I am very pleased to say that the federal
Leader of the Opposition, Bill Shorten, shares our commitment to putting
patients first. I was delighted to see recently that federal Labor has
committed in government to providing a full-time licence for an MRI machine at
Midland hospital. I know the member for Bateman is supportive of this because
he has been nodding and murmuring and making positive noises the entire way, so
I am sure that the member for Bateman is as bemused, disappointed and angry as
we are —
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr R.H. COOK : I am sure that
he is as angry as we are that the federal government has allocated just five MRI
licences in the past five years nationally. In addition, the member for Bateman
would be outraged to hear that Western Australia, on a population basis, has
the lowest allocation of MRI licences in the nation.
Ms S.F. McGurk : Has he done
any advocacy?
Mr R.H. COOK : I wonder whether the member for Bateman has done
any advocacy and I wonder whether he cares about the people of the north-eastern
suburbs. His comments now are just showing his utter contempt as he makes smart
alec remarks about essential health services for people in the north-eastern
suburbs. I have written to federal Minister for Health and Ageing Greg Hunt to
ask the federal government to match the commitment from federal Labor to ensure
that in addition to the commitment it has made around backing our promise on
the Kalgoorlie MRI licence, it will also do so for the people of the north-eastern
suburbs. The Australian Bureau of Statistics census demonstrated that
Ellenbrook was one of the fastest growing regions in Western Australia. The
people and families of that area deserve a full-time MRI licence. They will get
it if we have a federal Labor government come the next federal election. We are
looking to the federal Liberal government to match that commitment.
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