❓ Ms. Beard questions the Minister for Health regarding a potential increase to the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) fuel subsidy, citing cost of living pressures. The Minister avoids a direct commitment, highlighting the government's overall investment in regional healthcare and increased PATS rebates.
AnsweredQoN 578Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PATIENT ASSISTED TRAVEL SCHEME
578. Ms M. BEARD to the Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question.
Despite the historical situation and given the cost of living as it is at the
moment, will the minister commit to delivering a doubling at least of the fuel
subsidy in the midyear economic and fiscal outlook process?
578. Ms M. BEARD to the Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question.
Despite the historical situation and given the cost of living as it is at the
moment, will the minister commit to delivering a doubling at least of the fuel
subsidy in the midyear economic and fiscal outlook process?
AnswerView source ↗
History
counts because there is context here and it is important that members
understand the context. I acknowledge that the member was not in this
place when the former Liberal–National government ignored it. I understand
that the cost of living is biting across the
state and across the country. There is no question about that. But this
government has not only invested in increasing PATS, but also seen
record investment; no government has ever invested more in regional health care
and infrastructure than this government. The best outcome is getting health
care closer to where people live. That is what this government is investing in
and that is what we are delivering. We have doubled access to cancer services in
regional Western Australia since we have come to government. We have doubled access to cancer services so that people do not
have to travel multiple times to Perth. We opened a beautiful radiation oncology facility down in Albany so those patients do not have to travel. We
are redeveloping regional health campuses
and expanding services in major regional health campuses. There has not been
investment in regional health care of
this scale ever from any government and we are very proud of our regional investment.
We have significantly lifted the PATS rebates since we have been in
government.
The SPEAKER : Members, that
concludes question time.
counts because there is context here and it is important that members
understand the context. I acknowledge that the member was not in this
place when the former Liberal–National government ignored it. I understand
that the cost of living is biting across the
state and across the country. There is no question about that. But this
government has not only invested in increasing PATS, but also seen
record investment; no government has ever invested more in regional health care
and infrastructure than this government. The best outcome is getting health
care closer to where people live. That is what this government is investing in
and that is what we are delivering. We have doubled access to cancer services in
regional Western Australia since we have come to government. We have doubled access to cancer services so that people do not
have to travel multiple times to Perth. We opened a beautiful radiation oncology facility down in Albany so those patients do not have to travel. We
are redeveloping regional health campuses
and expanding services in major regional health campuses. There has not been
investment in regional health care of
this scale ever from any government and we are very proud of our regional investment.
We have significantly lifted the PATS rebates since we have been in
government.
The SPEAKER : Members, that
concludes question time.
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