❓ Ms D'Anna asks about regional health infrastructure investment. Minister Carey highlights projects in Geraldton & Bunbury, criticises the opposition's past record, and accuses them of 'group amnesia' regarding their lack of investment.
AnsweredQoN 243Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Health infrastructure—Regions243.Ms Divina D'Annato
the Minister for Health Infrastructure:I refer to the Cook
Labor government's $3.2 billion investment in health infrastructure over the
next four years.(1) Can the minister outline to the house how this
investment will deliver critical infrastructure in regional communities?(2) Can the minister advise the house whether he
is aware of anyone who has failed to deliver regional health projects?
the Minister for Health Infrastructure:I refer to the Cook
Labor government's $3.2 billion investment in health infrastructure over the
next four years.(1) Can the minister outline to the house how this
investment will deliver critical infrastructure in regional communities?(2) Can the minister advise the house whether he
is aware of anyone who has failed to deliver regional health projects?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 June 2025
Response time
0 days
Mr John Carey replied:(1)–(2) I thank the member for her
question. Our state government has a very ambitious health infrastructure
program. Over the next four years, $3.2 billion will deliver major projects and
planning for critical new projects, but also upgrades. As we know, there are
two huge regional projects, one of which is obviously the Geraldton Health
Campus with $188 million. Of course, we announced in this budget additional
funding for the planning needed to establish a new Geraldton radiation oncology
unit as part of that health precinct. We are also delivering the Bunbury
Hospital. Be very clear, this is the single biggest redevelopment of a regional
hospital in our state's history, with funding of $471 million, and an
additional $20 million in this budget to facilitate that outcome. We are
working on other critical projects, whether it is the Karratha and Geraldton
renal dialysis expansion, the Albany Health Campus or the Kalbarri Health
Centre. The planning to develop and get those projects underway is being funded
as part of the budget.I want to come back to the
Geraldton Health Campus.A member
interjected.Mr John Carey:No, it is important. Is there a doctor
in the house? There is one—Dr Jags. Never have I seen so many people
suffer with group amnesia at one moment in time as seen with those on the other
side. In fact, I looked online and it stated that group amnesia can come about
because groups or individuals actively try to erase or rewrite history to serve
their own interests. That does not sound like the Liberal–National Parties
suffering from group amnesia, does it! The member for Geraldton went out there
and feigned concern over the Geraldton Health Campus. I remind people that at
the time of the previous Liberal–National government, John Day said the
Geraldton Health Campus was a top priority. Then Colin Barnett came in and said,
"No, it's not." I make this point: the only real significant
investment we see in Geraldton health is with Labor governments; it was the case
with the Gallop government and now this government!Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Member for Central Wheatbelt!�Mr John Carey:The member needs to get help; the
attention seeking is just terrible.We see from the
opposition that when it is in government, it never delivers. It did not deliver
for Geraldton. Only Labor with the Cook government or the Gallop government have
delivered for Geraldton health. The opposition does not like that.Mr Lachlan Hunterinterjected.Mr John Carey:The member for Central Wheatbelt is
very sensitive about it! When the opposition was in power as a government, it
did nothing for Geraldton health—zero. It talked about it as a top
priority.Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members! Minister! The member for Central
Wheatbelt is making it very difficult for the minister to conclude his remarks.Mr John Carey:That
side of politics suffers from amnesia. It forgets. It forgets its history in
government—except when it is convenient. The member for Cottesloe or
the Leader of the Liberal Party are very happy to say at selective times, "Oh,
the Barnett government did this; we delivered the City Link", yet never do
they reflect on the Liberal–National record of lack of investment in regional
health. It did nothing in Geraldton.Several members
interjected.Mr John Carey:Can I say this: we should all sit down
and just allow the member for Central Wheatbelt to speak consistently and give
his views on everything because he has such a wealth of experience! Everyone
else can sit down and the member can be everything—the dictator of the
whole state—because that is how he operates.The reality is that
only one side of politics has consistently invested in health in Geraldton. It
is this side of the house. Members on the opposite side and the current member
feign concern or interest, but whenever they get in power, they do nothing.Mr Lachlan Hunterinterjected.The Speaker:Member for Central Wheatbelt, your
constant interjections are getting annoying and your own party member is on his
feet about to ask a question, so do not put that in jeopardy.
Health infrastructure—Regions
question. Our state government has a very ambitious health infrastructure
program. Over the next four years, $3.2 billion will deliver major projects and
planning for critical new projects, but also upgrades. As we know, there are
two huge regional projects, one of which is obviously the Geraldton Health
Campus with $188 million. Of course, we announced in this budget additional
funding for the planning needed to establish a new Geraldton radiation oncology
unit as part of that health precinct. We are also delivering the Bunbury
Hospital. Be very clear, this is the single biggest redevelopment of a regional
hospital in our state's history, with funding of $471 million, and an
additional $20 million in this budget to facilitate that outcome. We are
working on other critical projects, whether it is the Karratha and Geraldton
renal dialysis expansion, the Albany Health Campus or the Kalbarri Health
Centre. The planning to develop and get those projects underway is being funded
as part of the budget.I want to come back to the
Geraldton Health Campus.A member
interjected.Mr John Carey:No, it is important. Is there a doctor
in the house? There is one—Dr Jags. Never have I seen so many people
suffer with group amnesia at one moment in time as seen with those on the other
side. In fact, I looked online and it stated that group amnesia can come about
because groups or individuals actively try to erase or rewrite history to serve
their own interests. That does not sound like the Liberal–National Parties
suffering from group amnesia, does it! The member for Geraldton went out there
and feigned concern over the Geraldton Health Campus. I remind people that at
the time of the previous Liberal–National government, John Day said the
Geraldton Health Campus was a top priority. Then Colin Barnett came in and said,
"No, it's not." I make this point: the only real significant
investment we see in Geraldton health is with Labor governments; it was the case
with the Gallop government and now this government!Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Member for Central Wheatbelt!�Mr John Carey:The member needs to get help; the
attention seeking is just terrible.We see from the
opposition that when it is in government, it never delivers. It did not deliver
for Geraldton. Only Labor with the Cook government or the Gallop government have
delivered for Geraldton health. The opposition does not like that.Mr Lachlan Hunterinterjected.Mr John Carey:The member for Central Wheatbelt is
very sensitive about it! When the opposition was in power as a government, it
did nothing for Geraldton health—zero. It talked about it as a top
priority.Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members! Minister! The member for Central
Wheatbelt is making it very difficult for the minister to conclude his remarks.Mr John Carey:That
side of politics suffers from amnesia. It forgets. It forgets its history in
government—except when it is convenient. The member for Cottesloe or
the Leader of the Liberal Party are very happy to say at selective times, "Oh,
the Barnett government did this; we delivered the City Link", yet never do
they reflect on the Liberal–National record of lack of investment in regional
health. It did nothing in Geraldton.Several members
interjected.Mr John Carey:Can I say this: we should all sit down
and just allow the member for Central Wheatbelt to speak consistently and give
his views on everything because he has such a wealth of experience! Everyone
else can sit down and the member can be everything—the dictator of the
whole state—because that is how he operates.The reality is that
only one side of politics has consistently invested in health in Geraldton. It
is this side of the house. Members on the opposite side and the current member
feign concern or interest, but whenever they get in power, they do nothing.Mr Lachlan Hunterinterjected.The Speaker:Member for Central Wheatbelt, your
constant interjections are getting annoying and your own party member is on his
feet about to ask a question, so do not put that in jeopardy.
Health infrastructure—Regions
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