❓ Ms. Beard questions the Minister for Health about the allocation of funds for regional hospital upgrades in the 2024-25 budget, specifically regarding the Meekatharra, Laverton, and Tom Price Hospitals. The Minister defends the government's commitment to regional healthcare infrastructure despite construction challenges.
AnsweredQoN 314Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE
BUDGET 2024–25 — HEALTH — REGIONAL CAPITAL WORKS
PROGRAM
314. Ms M. BEARD to the Minister for Health:
My question is to the —
Mr M.J. Folkard interjected.
Withdrawal of Remark
The SPEAKER : Sorry; one
moment, please. I think I heard an unparliamentary interjection. Perhaps I can
ask you to withdraw that comment.
Mr M.J. Folkard : I withdraw.
The SPEAKER : You will stand
and withdraw.
Mr M.J. FOLKARD : I withdraw
that comment.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Ms
M. BEARD : I refer to the minister's
comments in this place regarding regional hospital upgrades when she stated —
I can provide a very firm commitment
to the member and to the chamber that the government remains rock-solid behind
these regional hospital developments—all of them.
(1) Can the
minister explain why, if these projects are a priority, and given the
significant increases in building costs, the regional hospital capital works
program is only $56.4 million, which is six per cent of the Department of
Health's $864 million capital works program in 2024–25?
(2) Why have
Meekatharra Hospital, Laverton Hospital and Tom Price Hospital not gone to
tender and will not commence construction in 2024–25?
BUDGET 2024–25 — HEALTH — REGIONAL CAPITAL WORKS
PROGRAM
314. Ms M. BEARD to the Minister for Health:
My question is to the —
Mr M.J. Folkard interjected.
Withdrawal of Remark
The SPEAKER : Sorry; one
moment, please. I think I heard an unparliamentary interjection. Perhaps I can
ask you to withdraw that comment.
Mr M.J. Folkard : I withdraw.
The SPEAKER : You will stand
and withdraw.
Mr M.J. FOLKARD : I withdraw
that comment.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Ms
M. BEARD : I refer to the minister's
comments in this place regarding regional hospital upgrades when she stated —
I can provide a very firm commitment
to the member and to the chamber that the government remains rock-solid behind
these regional hospital developments—all of them.
(1) Can the
minister explain why, if these projects are a priority, and given the
significant increases in building costs, the regional hospital capital works
program is only $56.4 million, which is six per cent of the Department of
Health's $864 million capital works program in 2024–25?
(2) Why have
Meekatharra Hospital, Laverton Hospital and Tom Price Hospital not gone to
tender and will not commence construction in 2024–25?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) The member's comments are simply not true.
The budget outlines record expenditure on regional healthcare infrastructure. Money is in the budget for those hospitals. It will cost more,
and we are working through that process.
Absolutely none of that indicates that we are not committed to the projects. In
fact, it indicates that we are committed to the projects because they
are in the budget. The member is well aware of the construction challenges in
the current market, and we are working through those challenges. We are doing
that with our partners in the construction industry and with our industry
partners that are supporting some of these projects. We are working through the
innovative solutions to deliver those projects quickly. We have provided more
upgrades to regional healthcare infrastructure than the National Party ever did
in government. I am proud of our record on infrastructure. I am proud of our
record on the increase in staff. I am proud
of our record on the doubling of cancer services to regional Western Australia.
We have doubled the cancer treatment provided in regional Western Australia.
Is the member complaining about that? Is that an issue for the member? It is
about not only record infrastructure, but also the increase in services close
to home. This government is absolutely proud of its record infrastructure
investment and increased regional healthcare services.
The budget outlines record expenditure on regional healthcare infrastructure. Money is in the budget for those hospitals. It will cost more,
and we are working through that process.
Absolutely none of that indicates that we are not committed to the projects. In
fact, it indicates that we are committed to the projects because they
are in the budget. The member is well aware of the construction challenges in
the current market, and we are working through those challenges. We are doing
that with our partners in the construction industry and with our industry
partners that are supporting some of these projects. We are working through the
innovative solutions to deliver those projects quickly. We have provided more
upgrades to regional healthcare infrastructure than the National Party ever did
in government. I am proud of our record on infrastructure. I am proud of our
record on the increase in staff. I am proud
of our record on the doubling of cancer services to regional Western Australia.
We have doubled the cancer treatment provided in regional Western Australia.
Is the member complaining about that? Is that an issue for the member? It is
about not only record infrastructure, but also the increase in services close
to home. This government is absolutely proud of its record infrastructure
investment and increased regional healthcare services.
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