❓ Treasurer Saffioti defends the Cook Labor government's Building Hospitals Fund, criticising the opposition's economic policies and commitment to health infrastructure. The response highlights the government's financial management and investment in hospital projects.
AnsweredQoN 587Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Building Hospitals Fund
587. Mr Ron Sao to the Treasurer:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to diversifying the Western Australian economy so
that it remains the strongest in the nation.
(1) Can the Treasurer update the house on how the
Cook Labor government is leveraging its record strong financial management to
deliver world-class health infrastructure?
(2) Is the Treasurer aware of any threats to this
plan?
587. Mr Ron Sao to the Treasurer:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to diversifying the Western Australian economy so
that it remains the strongest in the nation.
(1) Can the Treasurer update the house on how the
Cook Labor government is leveraging its record strong financial management to
deliver world-class health infrastructure?
(2) Is the Treasurer aware of any threats to this
plan?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) It was a big week last week, when
we announced the $1.5 billion Building Hospitals Fund. That fund is targeted at
three projects, as the Premier outlined, including buying Mount Lawley hospital.
I again heard the Leader of the Opposition talking about this hospital purchase
on radio. He said:
"I
think we all understand pretty clearly you are not buying hospitals from the
private sector …
For $1.6 billion—
if you have done the proper
planning …
We are not buying
the private hospital for $1.6 billion. "Bazenomics" strikes again,
members! We committed to the new Royal Perth Hospital.
Mr Lachlan Hunter: I have a point of order.
Ms Rita Saffioti: I call him "Mini-Me".
The Speaker: Thank you, Treasurer; there is no need
for that. Did the member for Central Wheatbelt call a point of order?
Point of order
Mr Lachlan Hunter: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I ask that
you remind the Treasurer to refer to the Leader of the Opposition by his
correct title.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Thank you. There is no need, Leader of
the Opposition. I am not upholding that point of order, member. You made an
assumption that the Treasurer did not actually say. Carry on, Treasurer.
Questions without notice resumed
Ms Rita Saffioti: As I said, we saw that type of
economics happen last week when the Leader of the Opposition said we would buy
a private hospital for $1.6 billion, which we are not. The $1.5 billion fund
is, of course, for purchasing St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital and for the
Royal Perth Hospital rebuild and, just to make sure that everyone is clear, it
is for a brand new building close to McIver train station that will have better
access for ambulances and the general public and, of course, it is for the new
Peel Health Campus, which I know members are very excited about. We can do that
because we have been managing the finances responsibly year upon year upon
year. We have created operating surpluses and managed debt. There are always
challenges and competing interests in government. That is why we chose to spend
that money on hospitals and not proceed with the Perth Convention and
Exhibition Centre. We made it very clear why we made that choice. As I said,
those hospitals will serve us not only tomorrow, but for generations to come.
Where does the
opposition stand on this? Today we heard that "Bazenomics" is at it
again. The Liberal Party says that we should hold the Commonwealth Games for at
least $1 billion, but it does not support bringing in events to WA like the
UFC. The Leader of the Liberal Party wants to spend $1 billion on another
waterfront in the CBD but does not believe that we should have an outdoor
amphitheatre to bring more shows and more people into Western Australia. The
Leader of the Liberal Party wanted a WA-based Coachella, but said that we
should not build the new amphitheatre in WA. He opposed the WACA redevelopment.
He said that the swimming pool was not architecturally brilliant enough for
him. That is what he said in a meeting—it was not architecturally
brilliant enough for his liking. This is the "Bazenomics" that we
have got from the Liberal Party.
What have we seen
over the past week? He said we should not be doing Burswood because we should
be doing hospitals, so we go and do hospitals. Then he says we should not be
doing hospitals; we should be doing the convention centre. He is all over the
place. We are moving WA forward across the entire economy, whether it is new
sporting and entertainment precincts or making sure that we deliver hospitals
for future generations while we continue to diversify the economy. The
opposition is all over the place. "Bazenomics" does not add up; it
just does not add up. The government cannot spend the same money 20 times. We
saw that under his previous role he did not deliver anything, yet all he does is
commentate. Yet again, over the past week he has shown just how bad a
commentator he really is.
we announced the $1.5 billion Building Hospitals Fund. That fund is targeted at
three projects, as the Premier outlined, including buying Mount Lawley hospital.
I again heard the Leader of the Opposition talking about this hospital purchase
on radio. He said:
"I
think we all understand pretty clearly you are not buying hospitals from the
private sector …
For $1.6 billion—
if you have done the proper
planning …
We are not buying
the private hospital for $1.6 billion. "Bazenomics" strikes again,
members! We committed to the new Royal Perth Hospital.
Mr Lachlan Hunter: I have a point of order.
Ms Rita Saffioti: I call him "Mini-Me".
The Speaker: Thank you, Treasurer; there is no need
for that. Did the member for Central Wheatbelt call a point of order?
Point of order
Mr Lachlan Hunter: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I ask that
you remind the Treasurer to refer to the Leader of the Opposition by his
correct title.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Thank you. There is no need, Leader of
the Opposition. I am not upholding that point of order, member. You made an
assumption that the Treasurer did not actually say. Carry on, Treasurer.
Questions without notice resumed
Ms Rita Saffioti: As I said, we saw that type of
economics happen last week when the Leader of the Opposition said we would buy
a private hospital for $1.6 billion, which we are not. The $1.5 billion fund
is, of course, for purchasing St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital and for the
Royal Perth Hospital rebuild and, just to make sure that everyone is clear, it
is for a brand new building close to McIver train station that will have better
access for ambulances and the general public and, of course, it is for the new
Peel Health Campus, which I know members are very excited about. We can do that
because we have been managing the finances responsibly year upon year upon
year. We have created operating surpluses and managed debt. There are always
challenges and competing interests in government. That is why we chose to spend
that money on hospitals and not proceed with the Perth Convention and
Exhibition Centre. We made it very clear why we made that choice. As I said,
those hospitals will serve us not only tomorrow, but for generations to come.
Where does the
opposition stand on this? Today we heard that "Bazenomics" is at it
again. The Liberal Party says that we should hold the Commonwealth Games for at
least $1 billion, but it does not support bringing in events to WA like the
UFC. The Leader of the Liberal Party wants to spend $1 billion on another
waterfront in the CBD but does not believe that we should have an outdoor
amphitheatre to bring more shows and more people into Western Australia. The
Leader of the Liberal Party wanted a WA-based Coachella, but said that we
should not build the new amphitheatre in WA. He opposed the WACA redevelopment.
He said that the swimming pool was not architecturally brilliant enough for
him. That is what he said in a meeting—it was not architecturally
brilliant enough for his liking. This is the "Bazenomics" that we
have got from the Liberal Party.
What have we seen
over the past week? He said we should not be doing Burswood because we should
be doing hospitals, so we go and do hospitals. Then he says we should not be
doing hospitals; we should be doing the convention centre. He is all over the
place. We are moving WA forward across the entire economy, whether it is new
sporting and entertainment precincts or making sure that we deliver hospitals
for future generations while we continue to diversify the economy. The
opposition is all over the place. "Bazenomics" does not add up; it
just does not add up. The government cannot spend the same money 20 times. We
saw that under his previous role he did not deliver anything, yet all he does is
commentate. Yet again, over the past week he has shown just how bad a
commentator he really is.
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