❓ Hon James Hayward questions the Minister for Health regarding the increase in WA deaths, the need for a national reporting approach, and whether COVID-19 policies contributed to increased deaths from specific diseases. The Minister's response emphasizes the importance of a nationally consistent approach for accurate comparisons.
AnsweredQoN 618Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MORTALITY RATE
618. Hon JAMES HAYWARD to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the need to wait for a nationally
consistent reporting approach to be able to comment on the significant increase
in the number of deaths in Western Australia.
(1) Why does the Western
Australian Minister for Health need to follow a ''nationally consistent
approach'' in order to comment on the 145 per cent increase in the
number of deaths of Western Australians?
(2) Noting
information tabled by the minister in response to question without notice 532,
asked on 17 May, why is the minister not able to comment on this data herself?
(3) Noting the
significant increases in dementia, diabetes and heart disease–related
deaths, is the government investigating whether COVID-19-related policies
contributed to these increases?
(4) Will the number of excess deaths be investigated
in detail by the independent review of WA's COVID-19 response
announced by the government in 2022; and, if not, why not?
618. Hon JAMES HAYWARD to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the need to wait for a nationally
consistent reporting approach to be able to comment on the significant increase
in the number of deaths in Western Australia.
(1) Why does the Western
Australian Minister for Health need to follow a ''nationally consistent
approach'' in order to comment on the 145 per cent increase in the
number of deaths of Western Australians?
(2) Noting
information tabled by the minister in response to question without notice 532,
asked on 17 May, why is the minister not able to comment on this data herself?
(3) Noting the
significant increases in dementia, diabetes and heart disease–related
deaths, is the government investigating whether COVID-19-related policies
contributed to these increases?
(4) Will the number of excess deaths be investigated
in detail by the independent review of WA's COVID-19 response
announced by the government in 2022; and, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. I answer on behalf of the Leader of the House. The
following answer has been provided by the Minister for Health.
(1)–(4) Different
methods for estimating excess mortality can yield different results. A
nationally consistent approach allows
comparisons across jurisdictions and gives a better benchmark. The Department
of Health will continue to monitor mortality data.
some notice of the question. I answer on behalf of the Leader of the House. The
following answer has been provided by the Minister for Health.
(1)–(4) Different
methods for estimating excess mortality can yield different results. A
nationally consistent approach allows
comparisons across jurisdictions and gives a better benchmark. The Department
of Health will continue to monitor mortality data.
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