❓ Mr. Hughes questions the Premier on progress regarding the government's commitment to fast-tracking state-owned land for aged-care facilities. The Premier responds by highlighting a new aged-care facility and ongoing efforts to free up land for such developments.
AnsweredQoN 732Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
AGED-CARE FACILITIES
732. Mr M. HUGHES to the Premier:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's election commitment of fast-tracking the availability of
state-owned land and property for new aged-care facilities.
(1) Can the
Premier update the house on how this government is delivering on this
commitment and providing more aged-care beds across Western Australia?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house why delivering new aged-care beds is important in
alleviating pressure on our hospitals?
732. Mr M. HUGHES to the Premier:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's election commitment of fast-tracking the availability of
state-owned land and property for new aged-care facilities.
(1) Can the
Premier update the house on how this government is delivering on this
commitment and providing more aged-care beds across Western Australia?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house why delivering new aged-care beds is important in
alleviating pressure on our hospitals?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Kalamunda for
the question. Before answering it, though, I would like to answer a question
asked yesterday by the member for South Perth. The member for Southern River's
daughter's name is Arya. She is 3.67 kilograms in weight and 52
centimetres long. The member would like to pass on his regards and thanks to
the staff at Fiona Stanley Hospital.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Speak slower!
Mr M. McGOWAN : I will answer
the member for Kalamunda's question now.
(1)–(2) This
morning the member for Kalamunda, the member Forrestfield and I were in High
Wycombe to turn the sod on the new Hall and Prior aged-care facility, a $90
million investment that will employ 250 people when operational. It has 200
people working on construction and will provide 160 aged-care beds and a range
of other services for older Western Australians, but also younger Western Australians
with disabilities, in the High Wycombe–Kalamunda–Forrestfield
region. It is a terrific expression of confidence in Western Australia. I was very
pleased to be there with the two local MPs to turn that first sod. I would
particularly like to acknowledge Graeme Prior and his efforts as part of the
very successful and high-employing organisation that is the Hall and Prior Aged
Care Group. I thank Graeme for the invitation to be there, but also for his
efforts to secure and build this new facility.
It makes us aware that we have a demand
for aged-care beds across Western Australia. The government has worked very
hard—the Minister for Planning, me and the member for Kalamunda
chairing a relevant body—to free up land and make sure there are around
30 sites in regional and city Western Australia available for aged-care
providers. We have engaged in a range of rezones and land transfers, and the
removal of red tape, working with providers to do that. We will work with
whoever the federal government is to make sure that those beds are provided to Western
Australian and those sites are made available for aged-care facilities. By
doing so we are able to alleviate pressure on the hospital system, because a lot
of people who should be in aged-care beds are occupying hospital beds, and we
have had some success in achieving this outcome. Obviously, in 18 months we
have done a lot, but this is one of the important measures to help the
healthcare system, to help ageing Western Australians and to make sure we
create those jobs, because it is a very high employing industry.
In closing, I want to thank the
aged-care workforce—I said it this morning, but I will do it again—across
Western Australia who do a marvellous job with older Western Australians. As I said
this morning as well, they often sit with someone as they pass away because
family members are not there. Our aged-care workforce in Western Australia are
true heroes of our state.
the question. Before answering it, though, I would like to answer a question
asked yesterday by the member for South Perth. The member for Southern River's
daughter's name is Arya. She is 3.67 kilograms in weight and 52
centimetres long. The member would like to pass on his regards and thanks to
the staff at Fiona Stanley Hospital.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Speak slower!
Mr M. McGOWAN : I will answer
the member for Kalamunda's question now.
(1)–(2) This
morning the member for Kalamunda, the member Forrestfield and I were in High
Wycombe to turn the sod on the new Hall and Prior aged-care facility, a $90
million investment that will employ 250 people when operational. It has 200
people working on construction and will provide 160 aged-care beds and a range
of other services for older Western Australians, but also younger Western Australians
with disabilities, in the High Wycombe–Kalamunda–Forrestfield
region. It is a terrific expression of confidence in Western Australia. I was very
pleased to be there with the two local MPs to turn that first sod. I would
particularly like to acknowledge Graeme Prior and his efforts as part of the
very successful and high-employing organisation that is the Hall and Prior Aged
Care Group. I thank Graeme for the invitation to be there, but also for his
efforts to secure and build this new facility.
It makes us aware that we have a demand
for aged-care beds across Western Australia. The government has worked very
hard—the Minister for Planning, me and the member for Kalamunda
chairing a relevant body—to free up land and make sure there are around
30 sites in regional and city Western Australia available for aged-care
providers. We have engaged in a range of rezones and land transfers, and the
removal of red tape, working with providers to do that. We will work with
whoever the federal government is to make sure that those beds are provided to Western
Australian and those sites are made available for aged-care facilities. By
doing so we are able to alleviate pressure on the hospital system, because a lot
of people who should be in aged-care beds are occupying hospital beds, and we
have had some success in achieving this outcome. Obviously, in 18 months we
have done a lot, but this is one of the important measures to help the
healthcare system, to help ageing Western Australians and to make sure we
create those jobs, because it is a very high employing industry.
In closing, I want to thank the
aged-care workforce—I said it this morning, but I will do it again—across
Western Australia who do a marvellous job with older Western Australians. As I said
this morning as well, they often sit with someone as they pass away because
family members are not there. Our aged-care workforce in Western Australia are
true heroes of our state.
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