❓ Opposition Leader Kirkup questions the Premier on the government's commitment to women and children's health, specifically regarding the King Edward Memorial Hospital rebuild and a maternal health research fund. The Premier responds, highlighting the government's existing plans for a new women's and babies' hospital and criticising the opposition's costings.
AnsweredQoN 962Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HEALTH — WOMEN
AND CHILDREN
962. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Premier:
Mr Speaker —
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, I call
you to order for the second time. You've got no taste in clothes
either.
Mr P.C. Tinley : Is that
jacket knitted? It's crocheted, isn't it?
The
SPEAKER : Minister for Housing,
you're not what I'd call a fashion icon either. I call you to
order for the first time. Are there any other people who think they are
funny or want to say something? I think you look great, mate.
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : Considering
you wore a powdered wig this morning, Mr Speaker, I am not sure that is a compliment!
I refer to the Liberals'
exceptional announcement to rebuild King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women and
establish a $60 million maternal and child health research fund. Is the
government committed to women and children's health; and, if so, will
it match our commitments?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, please!
AND CHILDREN
962. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Premier:
Mr Speaker —
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, I call
you to order for the second time. You've got no taste in clothes
either.
Mr P.C. Tinley : Is that
jacket knitted? It's crocheted, isn't it?
The
SPEAKER : Minister for Housing,
you're not what I'd call a fashion icon either. I call you to
order for the first time. Are there any other people who think they are
funny or want to say something? I think you look great, mate.
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : Considering
you wore a powdered wig this morning, Mr Speaker, I am not sure that is a compliment!
I refer to the Liberals'
exceptional announcement to rebuild King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women and
establish a $60 million maternal and child health research fund. Is the
government committed to women and children's health; and, if so, will
it match our commitments?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, please!
AnswerView source ↗
Mr Speaker, you might recall that
the government made an important announcement about a new women's and
babies' hospital—I think it was last year—when we
settled the BHP matter. We committed the vast bulk of the settlement towards
the women's and babies' hospital. We retained planning money
for the women's and babies' hospital,
but obviously withdrew some of the effort on the basis that we had to deal with
COVID back in March and April this
year, when we did not really understand—no-one did—how serious
the matter would be. We have retained money
in the budget for work on a new women's and babies' hospital.
We understand the importance of a new facility there. The government, as
I said on numerous occasions over the last couple of years, remains committed
to that project. It is a very, very important project. We announced it last
year. Obviously, we will have more to say about that in the future. I note that the $500 million commitment by the
Liberal Party goes absolutely nowhere near meeting the costs of a new
women's and babies' hospital. It is not in the ballpark. That
is a very, very small commitment towards women and babies made by the Liberal
Party, just so they understand. It is a very, very tiny commitment that they
made.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse!
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup : Rely on
your budget papers!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Obviously, the
Liberal Party is not good at costings. We remember the experience with lead in
the pipes at Perth Children's Hospital. We are still involved in
ongoing matters with the builders because of the performance of the last
government. This morning, I addressed a group of 1 000 contractors. It was
great. They are very interested in our pipeline of work. I was able to hold up
the new thermostatic mixing valve that the new Western Australian government
was able to put through the hospital, 1 800 of them, and fix the lead in the
pipes that the former government left us.
What I can say to the people of Western Australia when it comes to these
projects is: there is one party and one government people can have faith
in. Under the former government, lead in the pipes; under us, we fixed the
problem that it struggled with for years.
the government made an important announcement about a new women's and
babies' hospital—I think it was last year—when we
settled the BHP matter. We committed the vast bulk of the settlement towards
the women's and babies' hospital. We retained planning money
for the women's and babies' hospital,
but obviously withdrew some of the effort on the basis that we had to deal with
COVID back in March and April this
year, when we did not really understand—no-one did—how serious
the matter would be. We have retained money
in the budget for work on a new women's and babies' hospital.
We understand the importance of a new facility there. The government, as
I said on numerous occasions over the last couple of years, remains committed
to that project. It is a very, very important project. We announced it last
year. Obviously, we will have more to say about that in the future. I note that the $500 million commitment by the
Liberal Party goes absolutely nowhere near meeting the costs of a new
women's and babies' hospital. It is not in the ballpark. That
is a very, very small commitment towards women and babies made by the Liberal
Party, just so they understand. It is a very, very tiny commitment that they
made.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse!
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup : Rely on
your budget papers!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Obviously, the
Liberal Party is not good at costings. We remember the experience with lead in
the pipes at Perth Children's Hospital. We are still involved in
ongoing matters with the builders because of the performance of the last
government. This morning, I addressed a group of 1 000 contractors. It was
great. They are very interested in our pipeline of work. I was able to hold up
the new thermostatic mixing valve that the new Western Australian government
was able to put through the hospital, 1 800 of them, and fix the lead in the
pipes that the former government left us.
What I can say to the people of Western Australia when it comes to these
projects is: there is one party and one government people can have faith
in. Under the former government, lead in the pipes; under us, we fixed the
problem that it struggled with for years.
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