❓ Opposition questions Premier about delays to Fiona Stanley Hospital, state of Princess Margaret Hospital, and ambulance services. Premier deflects, highlighting government investment in health infrastructure and reduced elective surgery wait times.
AnsweredQoN 232Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HEALTH SERVICES — PROVISION 232. Mr T. BUSWELL to the Premier: Before asking my question I take this opportunity, on behalf of the opposition, to congratulate a member of the other place, Hon Graham Giffard, and his wife, Mandy, on the birth last Friday of their daughter Charlotte. I refer to the promise made by the Labor Party before the 2001 election to fix the health system in our state. (1) Will the Premier accept that the continual delays to the start of work on the proposed Fiona Stanley Hospital, originally promised by 2010 and now expected in 2014, are seriously undermining the provision of health services in metropolitan Perth? (2) Will he also accept the strong feeling within the medical profession that the inadequate state of Princess Margaret Hospital for Children is damaging the provision of health services to children of Western Australia? (3) Will the Premier confirm that the poor state of ambulance services and patient transport across the state is hampering the health system’s ability to treat the Western Australian public? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) I thank the member for the question because it enables us to talk about the dramatic improvement this government is undertaking to our health system, statewide. There is hardly a location in Western Australia where a regional or local health facility has not been, is not being, or will not be rebuilt, replaced or renewed. One of the measures we base that fact on is the waiting times for elective surgery. The waiting lists for elective surgery have halved and the waiting times have halved. Nevertheless, we are in the midst of a massive—and I mean massive—capital works program for our health services in Western Australia. The capital works program over the current forward estimate period for health is something like $4.9 billion for our reconstruction of the health model in Western Australia. The Fiona Stanley Hospital—unlike the assertion that was just made—will begin construction this year, 2008, not 2010. Mr T. Buswell : I said you had originally promised by 2010. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : No, the member did not. You prefaced that — Mr T. Buswell : Check the Hansard ! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member should check it! Dr K.D. Hames : He read it out! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the flagship of the Western Australian hospital system. Is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting we should not be doing it? Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
HEALTH SERVICES — PROVISION
Before asking my question I take this opportunity, on behalf of the opposition, to congratulate a member of the other place, Hon Graham Giffard, and his wife, Mandy, on the birth last Friday of their daughter Charlotte. I refer to the promise made by the Labor Party before the 2001 election to fix the health system in our state. (1) Will the Premier accept that the continual delays to the start of work on the proposed Fiona Stanley Hospital, originally promised by 2010 and now expected in 2014, are seriously undermining the provision of health services in metropolitan Perth? (2) Will he also accept the strong feeling within the medical profession that the inadequate state of Princess Margaret Hospital for Children is damaging the provision of health services to children of Western Australia? (3) Will the Premier confirm that the poor state of ambulance services and patient transport across the state is hampering the health system’s ability to treat the Western Australian public? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question because it enables us to talk about the dramatic improvement this government is undertaking to our health system, statewide. There is hardly a location in Western Australia where a regional or local health facility has not been, is not being, or will not be rebuilt, replaced or renewed. One of the measures we base that fact on is the waiting times for elective surgery. The waiting lists for elective surgery have halved and the waiting times have halved. Nevertheless, we are in the midst of a massive—and I mean massive—capital works program for our health services in Western Australia. The capital works program over the current forward estimate period for health is something like $4.9 billion for our reconstruction of the health model in Western Australia. The Fiona Stanley Hospital—unlike the assertion that was just made—will begin construction this year, 2008, not 2010. Mr T. Buswell : I said you had originally promised by 2010. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : No, the member did not. You prefaced that — Mr T. Buswell : Check the Hansard ! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member should check it! Dr K.D. Hames : He read it out! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the flagship of the Western Australian hospital system. Is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting we should not be doing it? Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
I refer to the promise made by the Labor Party before the 2001 election to fix the health system in our state. (1) Will the Premier accept that the continual delays to the start of work on the proposed Fiona Stanley Hospital, originally promised by 2010 and now expected in 2014, are seriously undermining the provision of health services in metropolitan Perth? (2) Will he also accept the strong feeling within the medical profession that the inadequate state of Princess Margaret Hospital for Children is damaging the provision of health services to children of Western Australia? (3) Will the Premier confirm that the poor state of ambulance services and patient transport across the state is hampering the health system’s ability to treat the Western Australian public? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question because it enables us to talk about the dramatic improvement this government is undertaking to our health system, statewide. There is hardly a location in Western Australia where a regional or local health facility has not been, is not being, or will not be rebuilt, replaced or renewed. One of the measures we base that fact on is the waiting times for elective surgery. The waiting lists for elective surgery have halved and the waiting times have halved. Nevertheless, we are in the midst of a massive—and I mean massive—capital works program for our health services in Western Australia. The capital works program over the current forward estimate period for health is something like $4.9 billion for our reconstruction of the health model in Western Australia. The Fiona Stanley Hospital—unlike the assertion that was just made—will begin construction this year, 2008, not 2010. Mr T. Buswell : I said you had originally promised by 2010. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : No, the member did not. You prefaced that — Mr T. Buswell : Check the Hansard ! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member should check it! Dr K.D. Hames : He read it out! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the flagship of the Western Australian hospital system. Is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting we should not be doing it? Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
(1) Will the Premier accept that the continual delays to the start of work on the proposed Fiona Stanley Hospital, originally promised by 2010 and now expected in 2014, are seriously undermining the provision of health services in metropolitan Perth? (2) Will he also accept the strong feeling within the medical profession that the inadequate state of Princess Margaret Hospital for Children is damaging the provision of health services to children of Western Australia? (3) Will the Premier confirm that the poor state of ambulance services and patient transport across the state is hampering the health system’s ability to treat the Western Australian public? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question because it enables us to talk about the dramatic improvement this government is undertaking to our health system, statewide. There is hardly a location in Western Australia where a regional or local health facility has not been, is not being, or will not be rebuilt, replaced or renewed. One of the measures we base that fact on is the waiting times for elective surgery. The waiting lists for elective surgery have halved and the waiting times have halved. Nevertheless, we are in the midst of a massive—and I mean massive—capital works program for our health services in Western Australia. The capital works program over the current forward estimate period for health is something like $4.9 billion for our reconstruction of the health model in Western Australia. The Fiona Stanley Hospital—unlike the assertion that was just made—will begin construction this year, 2008, not 2010. Mr T. Buswell : I said you had originally promised by 2010. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : No, the member did not. You prefaced that — Mr T. Buswell : Check the Hansard ! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member should check it! Dr K.D. Hames : He read it out! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the flagship of the Western Australian hospital system. Is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting we should not be doing it? Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
(2) Will he also accept the strong feeling within the medical profession that the inadequate state of Princess Margaret Hospital for Children is damaging the provision of health services to children of Western Australia? (3) Will the Premier confirm that the poor state of ambulance services and patient transport across the state is hampering the health system’s ability to treat the Western Australian public? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question because it enables us to talk about the dramatic improvement this government is undertaking to our health system, statewide. There is hardly a location in Western Australia where a regional or local health facility has not been, is not being, or will not be rebuilt, replaced or renewed. One of the measures we base that fact on is the waiting times for elective surgery. The waiting lists for elective surgery have halved and the waiting times have halved. Nevertheless, we are in the midst of a massive—and I mean massive—capital works program for our health services in Western Australia. The capital works program over the current forward estimate period for health is something like $4.9 billion for our reconstruction of the health model in Western Australia. The Fiona Stanley Hospital—unlike the assertion that was just made—will begin construction this year, 2008, not 2010. Mr T. Buswell : I said you had originally promised by 2010. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : No, the member did not. You prefaced that — Mr T. Buswell : Check the Hansard ! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member should check it! Dr K.D. Hames : He read it out! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the flagship of the Western Australian hospital system. Is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting we should not be doing it? Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
(3) Will the Premier confirm that the poor state of ambulance services and patient transport across the state is hampering the health system’s ability to treat the Western Australian public? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question because it enables us to talk about the dramatic improvement this government is undertaking to our health system, statewide. There is hardly a location in Western Australia where a regional or local health facility has not been, is not being, or will not be rebuilt, replaced or renewed. One of the measures we base that fact on is the waiting times for elective surgery. The waiting lists for elective surgery have halved and the waiting times have halved. Nevertheless, we are in the midst of a massive—and I mean massive—capital works program for our health services in Western Australia. The capital works program over the current forward estimate period for health is something like $4.9 billion for our reconstruction of the health model in Western Australia. The Fiona Stanley Hospital—unlike the assertion that was just made—will begin construction this year, 2008, not 2010. Mr T. Buswell : I said you had originally promised by 2010. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : No, the member did not. You prefaced that — Mr T. Buswell : Check the Hansard ! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member should check it! Dr K.D. Hames : He read it out! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the flagship of the Western Australian hospital system. Is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting we should not be doing it? Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question because it enables us to talk about the dramatic improvement this government is undertaking to our health system, statewide. There is hardly a location in Western Australia where a regional or local health facility has not been, is not being, or will not be rebuilt, replaced or renewed. One of the measures we base that fact on is the waiting times for elective surgery. The waiting lists for elective surgery have halved and the waiting times have halved. Nevertheless, we are in the midst of a massive—and I mean massive—capital works program for our health services in Western Australia. The capital works program over the current forward estimate period for health is something like $4.9 billion for our reconstruction of the health model in Western Australia. The Fiona Stanley Hospital—unlike the assertion that was just made—will begin construction this year, 2008, not 2010. Mr T. Buswell : I said you had originally promised by 2010. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : No, the member did not. You prefaced that — Mr T. Buswell : Check the Hansard ! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member should check it! Dr K.D. Hames : He read it out! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the flagship of the Western Australian hospital system. Is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting we should not be doing it? Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
(1)-(3) I thank the member for the question because it enables us to talk about the dramatic improvement this government is undertaking to our health system, statewide. There is hardly a location in Western Australia where a regional or local health facility has not been, is not being, or will not be rebuilt, replaced or renewed. One of the measures we base that fact on is the waiting times for elective surgery. The waiting lists for elective surgery have halved and the waiting times have halved. Nevertheless, we are in the midst of a massive—and I mean massive—capital works program for our health services in Western Australia. The capital works program over the current forward estimate period for health is something like $4.9 billion for our reconstruction of the health model in Western Australia. The Fiona Stanley Hospital—unlike the assertion that was just made—will begin construction this year, 2008, not 2010. Mr T. Buswell : I said you had originally promised by 2010. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : No, the member did not. You prefaced that — Mr T. Buswell : Check the Hansard ! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member should check it! Dr K.D. Hames : He read it out! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the flagship of the Western Australian hospital system. Is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting we should not be doing it? Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
Mr T. Buswell : I said you had originally promised by 2010. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : No, the member did not. You prefaced that — Mr T. Buswell : Check the Hansard ! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member should check it! Dr K.D. Hames : He read it out! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the flagship of the Western Australian hospital system. Is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting we should not be doing it? Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : No, the member did not. You prefaced that — Mr T. Buswell : Check the Hansard ! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member should check it! Dr K.D. Hames : He read it out! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the flagship of the Western Australian hospital system. Is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting we should not be doing it? Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
Mr T. Buswell : Check the Hansard ! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member should check it! Dr K.D. Hames : He read it out! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the flagship of the Western Australian hospital system. Is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting we should not be doing it? Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member should check it! Dr K.D. Hames : He read it out! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the flagship of the Western Australian hospital system. Is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting we should not be doing it? Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
Dr K.D. Hames : He read it out! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the flagship of the Western Australian hospital system. Is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting we should not be doing it? Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the flagship of the Western Australian hospital system. Is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting we should not be doing it? Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
HEALTH SERVICES — PROVISION
Before asking my question I take this opportunity, on behalf of the opposition, to congratulate a member of the other place, Hon Graham Giffard, and his wife, Mandy, on the birth last Friday of their daughter Charlotte. I refer to the promise made by the Labor Party before the 2001 election to fix the health system in our state. (1) Will the Premier accept that the continual delays to the start of work on the proposed Fiona Stanley Hospital, originally promised by 2010 and now expected in 2014, are seriously undermining the provision of health services in metropolitan Perth? (2) Will he also accept the strong feeling within the medical profession that the inadequate state of Princess Margaret Hospital for Children is damaging the provision of health services to children of Western Australia? (3) Will the Premier confirm that the poor state of ambulance services and patient transport across the state is hampering the health system’s ability to treat the Western Australian public? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question because it enables us to talk about the dramatic improvement this government is undertaking to our health system, statewide. There is hardly a location in Western Australia where a regional or local health facility has not been, is not being, or will not be rebuilt, replaced or renewed. One of the measures we base that fact on is the waiting times for elective surgery. The waiting lists for elective surgery have halved and the waiting times have halved. Nevertheless, we are in the midst of a massive—and I mean massive—capital works program for our health services in Western Australia. The capital works program over the current forward estimate period for health is something like $4.9 billion for our reconstruction of the health model in Western Australia. The Fiona Stanley Hospital—unlike the assertion that was just made—will begin construction this year, 2008, not 2010. Mr T. Buswell : I said you had originally promised by 2010. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : No, the member did not. You prefaced that — Mr T. Buswell : Check the Hansard ! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member should check it! Dr K.D. Hames : He read it out! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the flagship of the Western Australian hospital system. Is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting we should not be doing it? Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
I refer to the promise made by the Labor Party before the 2001 election to fix the health system in our state. (1) Will the Premier accept that the continual delays to the start of work on the proposed Fiona Stanley Hospital, originally promised by 2010 and now expected in 2014, are seriously undermining the provision of health services in metropolitan Perth? (2) Will he also accept the strong feeling within the medical profession that the inadequate state of Princess Margaret Hospital for Children is damaging the provision of health services to children of Western Australia? (3) Will the Premier confirm that the poor state of ambulance services and patient transport across the state is hampering the health system’s ability to treat the Western Australian public? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question because it enables us to talk about the dramatic improvement this government is undertaking to our health system, statewide. There is hardly a location in Western Australia where a regional or local health facility has not been, is not being, or will not be rebuilt, replaced or renewed. One of the measures we base that fact on is the waiting times for elective surgery. The waiting lists for elective surgery have halved and the waiting times have halved. Nevertheless, we are in the midst of a massive—and I mean massive—capital works program for our health services in Western Australia. The capital works program over the current forward estimate period for health is something like $4.9 billion for our reconstruction of the health model in Western Australia. The Fiona Stanley Hospital—unlike the assertion that was just made—will begin construction this year, 2008, not 2010. Mr T. Buswell : I said you had originally promised by 2010. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : No, the member did not. You prefaced that — Mr T. Buswell : Check the Hansard ! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member should check it! Dr K.D. Hames : He read it out! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the flagship of the Western Australian hospital system. Is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting we should not be doing it? Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
(1) Will the Premier accept that the continual delays to the start of work on the proposed Fiona Stanley Hospital, originally promised by 2010 and now expected in 2014, are seriously undermining the provision of health services in metropolitan Perth? (2) Will he also accept the strong feeling within the medical profession that the inadequate state of Princess Margaret Hospital for Children is damaging the provision of health services to children of Western Australia? (3) Will the Premier confirm that the poor state of ambulance services and patient transport across the state is hampering the health system’s ability to treat the Western Australian public? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question because it enables us to talk about the dramatic improvement this government is undertaking to our health system, statewide. There is hardly a location in Western Australia where a regional or local health facility has not been, is not being, or will not be rebuilt, replaced or renewed. One of the measures we base that fact on is the waiting times for elective surgery. The waiting lists for elective surgery have halved and the waiting times have halved. Nevertheless, we are in the midst of a massive—and I mean massive—capital works program for our health services in Western Australia. The capital works program over the current forward estimate period for health is something like $4.9 billion for our reconstruction of the health model in Western Australia. The Fiona Stanley Hospital—unlike the assertion that was just made—will begin construction this year, 2008, not 2010. Mr T. Buswell : I said you had originally promised by 2010. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : No, the member did not. You prefaced that — Mr T. Buswell : Check the Hansard ! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member should check it! Dr K.D. Hames : He read it out! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the flagship of the Western Australian hospital system. Is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting we should not be doing it? Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
(2) Will he also accept the strong feeling within the medical profession that the inadequate state of Princess Margaret Hospital for Children is damaging the provision of health services to children of Western Australia? (3) Will the Premier confirm that the poor state of ambulance services and patient transport across the state is hampering the health system’s ability to treat the Western Australian public? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question because it enables us to talk about the dramatic improvement this government is undertaking to our health system, statewide. There is hardly a location in Western Australia where a regional or local health facility has not been, is not being, or will not be rebuilt, replaced or renewed. One of the measures we base that fact on is the waiting times for elective surgery. The waiting lists for elective surgery have halved and the waiting times have halved. Nevertheless, we are in the midst of a massive—and I mean massive—capital works program for our health services in Western Australia. The capital works program over the current forward estimate period for health is something like $4.9 billion for our reconstruction of the health model in Western Australia. The Fiona Stanley Hospital—unlike the assertion that was just made—will begin construction this year, 2008, not 2010. Mr T. Buswell : I said you had originally promised by 2010. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : No, the member did not. You prefaced that — Mr T. Buswell : Check the Hansard ! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member should check it! Dr K.D. Hames : He read it out! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the flagship of the Western Australian hospital system. Is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting we should not be doing it? Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
(3) Will the Premier confirm that the poor state of ambulance services and patient transport across the state is hampering the health system’s ability to treat the Western Australian public? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question because it enables us to talk about the dramatic improvement this government is undertaking to our health system, statewide. There is hardly a location in Western Australia where a regional or local health facility has not been, is not being, or will not be rebuilt, replaced or renewed. One of the measures we base that fact on is the waiting times for elective surgery. The waiting lists for elective surgery have halved and the waiting times have halved. Nevertheless, we are in the midst of a massive—and I mean massive—capital works program for our health services in Western Australia. The capital works program over the current forward estimate period for health is something like $4.9 billion for our reconstruction of the health model in Western Australia. The Fiona Stanley Hospital—unlike the assertion that was just made—will begin construction this year, 2008, not 2010. Mr T. Buswell : I said you had originally promised by 2010. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : No, the member did not. You prefaced that — Mr T. Buswell : Check the Hansard ! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member should check it! Dr K.D. Hames : He read it out! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the flagship of the Western Australian hospital system. Is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting we should not be doing it? Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question because it enables us to talk about the dramatic improvement this government is undertaking to our health system, statewide. There is hardly a location in Western Australia where a regional or local health facility has not been, is not being, or will not be rebuilt, replaced or renewed. One of the measures we base that fact on is the waiting times for elective surgery. The waiting lists for elective surgery have halved and the waiting times have halved. Nevertheless, we are in the midst of a massive—and I mean massive—capital works program for our health services in Western Australia. The capital works program over the current forward estimate period for health is something like $4.9 billion for our reconstruction of the health model in Western Australia. The Fiona Stanley Hospital—unlike the assertion that was just made—will begin construction this year, 2008, not 2010. Mr T. Buswell : I said you had originally promised by 2010. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : No, the member did not. You prefaced that — Mr T. Buswell : Check the Hansard ! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member should check it! Dr K.D. Hames : He read it out! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the flagship of the Western Australian hospital system. Is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting we should not be doing it? Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
(1)-(3) I thank the member for the question because it enables us to talk about the dramatic improvement this government is undertaking to our health system, statewide. There is hardly a location in Western Australia where a regional or local health facility has not been, is not being, or will not be rebuilt, replaced or renewed. One of the measures we base that fact on is the waiting times for elective surgery. The waiting lists for elective surgery have halved and the waiting times have halved. Nevertheless, we are in the midst of a massive—and I mean massive—capital works program for our health services in Western Australia. The capital works program over the current forward estimate period for health is something like $4.9 billion for our reconstruction of the health model in Western Australia. The Fiona Stanley Hospital—unlike the assertion that was just made—will begin construction this year, 2008, not 2010. Mr T. Buswell : I said you had originally promised by 2010. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : No, the member did not. You prefaced that — Mr T. Buswell : Check the Hansard ! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member should check it! Dr K.D. Hames : He read it out! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the flagship of the Western Australian hospital system. Is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting we should not be doing it? Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
Mr T. Buswell : I said you had originally promised by 2010. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : No, the member did not. You prefaced that — Mr T. Buswell : Check the Hansard ! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member should check it! Dr K.D. Hames : He read it out! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the flagship of the Western Australian hospital system. Is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting we should not be doing it? Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : No, the member did not. You prefaced that — Mr T. Buswell : Check the Hansard ! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member should check it! Dr K.D. Hames : He read it out! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the flagship of the Western Australian hospital system. Is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting we should not be doing it? Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
Mr T. Buswell : Check the Hansard ! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member should check it! Dr K.D. Hames : He read it out! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the flagship of the Western Australian hospital system. Is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting we should not be doing it? Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member should check it! Dr K.D. Hames : He read it out! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the flagship of the Western Australian hospital system. Is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting we should not be doing it? Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
Dr K.D. Hames : He read it out! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the flagship of the Western Australian hospital system. Is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting we should not be doing it? Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the flagship of the Western Australian hospital system. Is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting we should not be doing it? Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
Mr T. Buswell : No. I want to know why the government has not done it when it said it would—2001. It is a vacant piece of bush. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They are quite remarkable assertions and that was quite a remarkable way of asserting them, I think, and it reflects rather poorly on the state of the opposition in Western Australia at the moment; and we all know about that. We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
We have a massive capital works program underway. The Fiona Stanley Hospital will be something like a $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion project. It is not the sort of project that equates with building another house, where plans are knocked up and work starts within a day or two. This is a massive project. This is one of the biggest hospital projects ever undertaken in the country, and we will do it right because we want that hospital to service the state for decades to come. Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
Go to any regional centre in Western Australia—and we do frequently—and have a look at the repair work, the reparation work, and the new development work that is happening with health facilities from Kununurra to Albany. There has never been a time like it in Western Australia for investment in our hospital and health infrastructure; never. Nothing remotely like this has ever happened in the history of the state. For the opposition to sit there carping about and criticising that capital works program, I think says a lot about them.
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