❓ Opposition MP questions the government's priorities, contrasting funding for a racetrack with delays in health projects. The Premier defends the government's record on health investment and economic diversification.
AnsweredQoN 157Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
State budget—Government priorities
157. Mr Basil Zempilas to the Premier:
How is it that the
government can announce budget funding and release a tender for the scope,
design and construction works for the racetrack?
(1) Why can government ministers not tell the
public when the women's and babies' hospital will open?
(2) Will the government tell us when the promised
works at Royal Perth Hospital's emergency department will be completed?
(3) Will the government commit to the Peel Health
Campus redevelopment being completed by 2027?
(4) Will the
government tell us when work will begin on the Meekatharra Hospital and the new
Mullewa Health Campus?
157. Mr Basil Zempilas to the Premier:
How is it that the
government can announce budget funding and release a tender for the scope,
design and construction works for the racetrack?
(1) Why can government ministers not tell the
public when the women's and babies' hospital will open?
(2) Will the government tell us when the promised
works at Royal Perth Hospital's emergency department will be completed?
(3) Will the government commit to the Peel Health
Campus redevelopment being completed by 2027?
(4) Will the
government tell us when work will begin on the Meekatharra Hospital and the new
Mullewa Health Campus?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(4) I thank the member for the
question. It gives us an opportunity to talk about our priorities as a WA Labor
government. Our priorities are jobs—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! You have asked a question. Let
the Premier respond.
Mr Roger Cook: Our priorities are jobs, health and
housing, and that will continue to be the case. Let me take members through the
list of projects that we are currently committed to. There has been $14.3 billion
in extra funding for health since 2021. Part of our infrastructure rebuild goes
the length and breadth of this state. For our new women's and babies' hospital,
there is $1.8 billion, and for Murdoch, Osborne Park and Perth Children's
Hospitals. For the Bunbury Hospital, there is a $451 million redevelopment with
over 100 beds. For Geraldton Health Campus, there is a $188 million
redevelopment, including an emergency department, an intensive care unit and
mental health beds. There is $8.6 million for the expansion of the health
centre at Fitzroy Crossing. For Peel Health Campus, there is a $152 million
redevelopment to outpatients, the ED and for mental health. As the Minister for
Health Infrastructure pointed out, they will be delivered by the public for the
public. Joondalup Health Campus has had a $284 million redevelopment with over
200 new beds and an expanded emergency department. Fremantle Hospital has had a
$264 million upgrade for 40 new mental health beds.
I know the Speaker
wanted us to be brief, but the list is long, so please bear with me. Perth
Children's Hospital has had a $21.9 million refurbishment to ward 5A. Sir
Charles Gairdner Hospital has had a $50 million upgrade to the ED ambulance
triage area with 10 intensive care unit beds. The Karratha step-up, step-down program
has had $19.7 million for a six-bed mental health facility. There is the commitment
to Laverton Hospital for the ED and outpatient facilities and mental health and
drug and alcohol services, and, of course, the Byford health hub, which is
integrated health and social care for families.
This is the biggest
health infrastructure rebuild in the state's history. It is an important part
of continuing to make sure that Western Australians enjoy the very best health care
on offer, no matter where they live in this great state.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! The member for Cottesloe!
Mr Roger Cook: They say an empty vessel makes the
loudest noise, and it is particularly loud today.
The opposition has
the luxury of being able to focus on single issues; we understand that. The
government has the responsibility to deliver across a range of policy areas. Governments
need to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. The priorities for my
government are jobs, health and housing. The Perth entertainment and sporting
precinct is one of our strategies to diversify the economy and create jobs. It
is part of a strategy to remain the strongest economy in the nation.
Several members
interjected.
Mr Roger Cook: This is in addition to everything else
that we have been doing. I just want to remind the chamber, because it is very
important to see what is going on in health care today. I know the Speaker wants
me to be brief, but it is hard when we do so much work in a particular policy
area. For instance, we have invested over $14.3 billion extra in health since
2021. That involved growing the health workforce by over 30%, with 4,400 more
nurses, over 1,800 new doctors and Higher Education Contribution Scheme grants
of up to $12,000 for new nurses and midwives to work in the regions. This
contrasts sharply with the record of the previous Liberal–National
government.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition! Opposition
members! Thank you. Carry on, Premier.
Mr Roger Cook: Can the Speaker believe that the health
workforce under the Liberal–National government actually went down. It
actually went down. It is shameful. There were 645 fewer nurses and 60% fewer
midwives between 15 July and 16 July.
Mr Basil Zempilas: That was nine years ago,
Premier.
Mr Roger Cook: There was a decrease in the number of
doctors of 131 and a decrease of 70 paediatricians. The Leader of the
Opposition says this was nine years ago, so let me remind members what happened
more than nine years ago.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: The
Liberals and Nationals were elected on the promise in 2008 that they would save
and upgrade Royal Perth Hospital. Nothing happened for four years.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Members!
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, that was not
part of your original question. You cannot add to it whilst you are getting a
response. Carry on, Premier.
Mr Roger Cook: What did the Liberal–National
government do after 2008? Did it apologise to the WA public? No; it doubled
down! It doubled down in 2013 and said, ''We're really getting onto it
this time!'' And, of course, we saw another breathtaking three and a
half years of nothing. Nothing! It neglected Royal Perth Hospital. It simply
ignored it. It said, ''Happy to take the votes!''. I remember the
member for Mount Lawley at the time, Hon Michael Sutherland, was very bullish.
He is gone. I remember the member for Perth, Eleni Evangel—she is gone.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Basil Zempilas: It was nine years, Premier!
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: I remember the member for Morley—sorry,
I cannot remember his name—Hon Ian Britza. He has gone!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Members! Thank you, Premier.
Mr Roger Cook: We have an extensive and comprehensive
health infrastructure program. It is why we have one of our very best ministers
working in this area to make sure that we can continue for the benefit of the
people of Western Australia. The people of Western Australia know that health
and health infrastructure will always be stronger under a WA Labor government.
question. It gives us an opportunity to talk about our priorities as a WA Labor
government. Our priorities are jobs—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! You have asked a question. Let
the Premier respond.
Mr Roger Cook: Our priorities are jobs, health and
housing, and that will continue to be the case. Let me take members through the
list of projects that we are currently committed to. There has been $14.3 billion
in extra funding for health since 2021. Part of our infrastructure rebuild goes
the length and breadth of this state. For our new women's and babies' hospital,
there is $1.8 billion, and for Murdoch, Osborne Park and Perth Children's
Hospitals. For the Bunbury Hospital, there is a $451 million redevelopment with
over 100 beds. For Geraldton Health Campus, there is a $188 million
redevelopment, including an emergency department, an intensive care unit and
mental health beds. There is $8.6 million for the expansion of the health
centre at Fitzroy Crossing. For Peel Health Campus, there is a $152 million
redevelopment to outpatients, the ED and for mental health. As the Minister for
Health Infrastructure pointed out, they will be delivered by the public for the
public. Joondalup Health Campus has had a $284 million redevelopment with over
200 new beds and an expanded emergency department. Fremantle Hospital has had a
$264 million upgrade for 40 new mental health beds.
I know the Speaker
wanted us to be brief, but the list is long, so please bear with me. Perth
Children's Hospital has had a $21.9 million refurbishment to ward 5A. Sir
Charles Gairdner Hospital has had a $50 million upgrade to the ED ambulance
triage area with 10 intensive care unit beds. The Karratha step-up, step-down program
has had $19.7 million for a six-bed mental health facility. There is the commitment
to Laverton Hospital for the ED and outpatient facilities and mental health and
drug and alcohol services, and, of course, the Byford health hub, which is
integrated health and social care for families.
This is the biggest
health infrastructure rebuild in the state's history. It is an important part
of continuing to make sure that Western Australians enjoy the very best health care
on offer, no matter where they live in this great state.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! The member for Cottesloe!
Mr Roger Cook: They say an empty vessel makes the
loudest noise, and it is particularly loud today.
The opposition has
the luxury of being able to focus on single issues; we understand that. The
government has the responsibility to deliver across a range of policy areas. Governments
need to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. The priorities for my
government are jobs, health and housing. The Perth entertainment and sporting
precinct is one of our strategies to diversify the economy and create jobs. It
is part of a strategy to remain the strongest economy in the nation.
Several members
interjected.
Mr Roger Cook: This is in addition to everything else
that we have been doing. I just want to remind the chamber, because it is very
important to see what is going on in health care today. I know the Speaker wants
me to be brief, but it is hard when we do so much work in a particular policy
area. For instance, we have invested over $14.3 billion extra in health since
2021. That involved growing the health workforce by over 30%, with 4,400 more
nurses, over 1,800 new doctors and Higher Education Contribution Scheme grants
of up to $12,000 for new nurses and midwives to work in the regions. This
contrasts sharply with the record of the previous Liberal–National
government.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition! Opposition
members! Thank you. Carry on, Premier.
Mr Roger Cook: Can the Speaker believe that the health
workforce under the Liberal–National government actually went down. It
actually went down. It is shameful. There were 645 fewer nurses and 60% fewer
midwives between 15 July and 16 July.
Mr Basil Zempilas: That was nine years ago,
Premier.
Mr Roger Cook: There was a decrease in the number of
doctors of 131 and a decrease of 70 paediatricians. The Leader of the
Opposition says this was nine years ago, so let me remind members what happened
more than nine years ago.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: The
Liberals and Nationals were elected on the promise in 2008 that they would save
and upgrade Royal Perth Hospital. Nothing happened for four years.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Members!
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, that was not
part of your original question. You cannot add to it whilst you are getting a
response. Carry on, Premier.
Mr Roger Cook: What did the Liberal–National
government do after 2008? Did it apologise to the WA public? No; it doubled
down! It doubled down in 2013 and said, ''We're really getting onto it
this time!'' And, of course, we saw another breathtaking three and a
half years of nothing. Nothing! It neglected Royal Perth Hospital. It simply
ignored it. It said, ''Happy to take the votes!''. I remember the
member for Mount Lawley at the time, Hon Michael Sutherland, was very bullish.
He is gone. I remember the member for Perth, Eleni Evangel—she is gone.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Basil Zempilas: It was nine years, Premier!
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: I remember the member for Morley—sorry,
I cannot remember his name—Hon Ian Britza. He has gone!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Members! Thank you, Premier.
Mr Roger Cook: We have an extensive and comprehensive
health infrastructure program. It is why we have one of our very best ministers
working in this area to make sure that we can continue for the benefit of the
people of Western Australia. The people of Western Australia know that health
and health infrastructure will always be stronger under a WA Labor government.
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