❓ The Premier outlines the Cook Labor government's investments in WA's health services, highlighting increased funding, hospital redevelopments, and workforce growth, while contrasting it with the previous Liberal-National government's performance.
AnsweredQoN 592Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HEALTH — GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE
592. Ms C.M. ROWE to the Premier:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
record investment in WA's health services.
(1) Can the
Premier outline to the house how this government is delivering improvements to
our hospitals and health services?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house how this government's record compares with
that of the previous Liberal–National government?
592. Ms C.M. ROWE to the Premier:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
record investment in WA's health services.
(1) Can the
Premier outline to the house how this government is delivering improvements to
our hospitals and health services?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house how this government's record compares with
that of the previous Liberal–National government?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for the question; it is a great one. It is an opportunity to
remind the community, and the community knows this, that it is a point of fact
that the WA Labor government has a strong record in investing in a world-class
health system. Since we have come to office, funding for public health services
in Western Australia has increased by 33 per cent; that is one-third more
funding for public health in this state. At the same time, funding for mental
health services has increased by a staggering 57 per cent. In the last three
years alone, an additional $14.3 billion has been invested in health and mental
health services. This leaves WA with the highest level of health funding per
person of any state in this nation. It is a record of which we are very proud.
The outcomes of these investments speak for themselves.
Just recently, I saw firsthand right
across the state the great opportunities that come from these funding
commitments, particularly in regional Western Australia. I am pleased to update
the house on the significant progress of the $166 million redevelopment of
Geraldton Health Campus. The redevelopment is taking shape, with earthworks
almost being completed and the first concrete footings having already been
poured. I was there with the member for Geraldton and it was fantastic to see
the progress of this particular hospital redevelopment, which is the biggest
funding investment in Geraldton Health Campus in history. It is record funding
for the Geraldton hospital. Once it is completed in 2026, the redevelopment
will deliver an expanded emergency department, a new intensive care unit and
integrated mental health services, because we want people to be able to receive
the care they need in the communities in which they live. As I said, our
investment at Geraldton hospital is the biggest in history. It will futureproof
health care in the midwest and create job opportunities for both local and
Aboriginal suppliers.
I also had the privilege to go to
Albany Health Campus to visit the new special care nursery. This service is a game
changer for families in the great southern, with additional nurses working
alongside specialist paediatric doctors who will oversee the nursery. We will
see more mums and babies receive specialised care close to home without having
to travel to Perth. These two record investments are part of our commitment towards health care, building better
regions and ensuring that Western Australians can access high-quality
health care regardless of where they live. This stands in sharp contrast to the
performance of those opposite when they were in government, when we saw a decrease
of 645 nurses, 60 midwives, 131 doctors and 17 paediatricians. It is staggering
to think that while Western Australia's population was growing, our
health workforce was actually shrinking under the Liberal and National Parties.
I think it is clear to everyone here that although WA Labor regards health care
as a fundamental pursuit of a state government, it is simply not a priority for
the Liberal and National Parties.
Our government not only cares about
health care in our community, but also delivers. We have added 709 new beds in
the hospital system over the past three years, which is the equivalent of
building a new Fiona Stanley Hospital here
in Western Australia. We are upgrading Joondalup Health Campus and we will
build a new women's and babies' hospital in Murdoch. We will
also deliver new and improved maternity services at Osborne Park Hospital.
Despite the global health workforce shortages, we have increased our health
workforce—this is an extraordinary statistic—by one-third. That
is a 33 per cent increase, which includes
more than 4 400 additional nurses and 1 800 additional doctors. The facts speak
for themselves. Only a WA Labor government will commit to the funding
and resources and making sure that our WA health system remains world class for not only the people of
today, but also the future populations of Western Australian.
thank the member for the question; it is a great one. It is an opportunity to
remind the community, and the community knows this, that it is a point of fact
that the WA Labor government has a strong record in investing in a world-class
health system. Since we have come to office, funding for public health services
in Western Australia has increased by 33 per cent; that is one-third more
funding for public health in this state. At the same time, funding for mental
health services has increased by a staggering 57 per cent. In the last three
years alone, an additional $14.3 billion has been invested in health and mental
health services. This leaves WA with the highest level of health funding per
person of any state in this nation. It is a record of which we are very proud.
The outcomes of these investments speak for themselves.
Just recently, I saw firsthand right
across the state the great opportunities that come from these funding
commitments, particularly in regional Western Australia. I am pleased to update
the house on the significant progress of the $166 million redevelopment of
Geraldton Health Campus. The redevelopment is taking shape, with earthworks
almost being completed and the first concrete footings having already been
poured. I was there with the member for Geraldton and it was fantastic to see
the progress of this particular hospital redevelopment, which is the biggest
funding investment in Geraldton Health Campus in history. It is record funding
for the Geraldton hospital. Once it is completed in 2026, the redevelopment
will deliver an expanded emergency department, a new intensive care unit and
integrated mental health services, because we want people to be able to receive
the care they need in the communities in which they live. As I said, our
investment at Geraldton hospital is the biggest in history. It will futureproof
health care in the midwest and create job opportunities for both local and
Aboriginal suppliers.
I also had the privilege to go to
Albany Health Campus to visit the new special care nursery. This service is a game
changer for families in the great southern, with additional nurses working
alongside specialist paediatric doctors who will oversee the nursery. We will
see more mums and babies receive specialised care close to home without having
to travel to Perth. These two record investments are part of our commitment towards health care, building better
regions and ensuring that Western Australians can access high-quality
health care regardless of where they live. This stands in sharp contrast to the
performance of those opposite when they were in government, when we saw a decrease
of 645 nurses, 60 midwives, 131 doctors and 17 paediatricians. It is staggering
to think that while Western Australia's population was growing, our
health workforce was actually shrinking under the Liberal and National Parties.
I think it is clear to everyone here that although WA Labor regards health care
as a fundamental pursuit of a state government, it is simply not a priority for
the Liberal and National Parties.
Our government not only cares about
health care in our community, but also delivers. We have added 709 new beds in
the hospital system over the past three years, which is the equivalent of
building a new Fiona Stanley Hospital here
in Western Australia. We are upgrading Joondalup Health Campus and we will
build a new women's and babies' hospital in Murdoch. We will
also deliver new and improved maternity services at Osborne Park Hospital.
Despite the global health workforce shortages, we have increased our health
workforce—this is an extraordinary statistic—by one-third. That
is a 33 per cent increase, which includes
more than 4 400 additional nurses and 1 800 additional doctors. The facts speak
for themselves. Only a WA Labor government will commit to the funding
and resources and making sure that our WA health system remains world class for not only the people of
today, but also the future populations of Western Australian.
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