❓ Ms. Mettam questions the Premier on why safety issues at Perth Children's Hospital's mental health unit weren't prioritised despite reports. The Premier defends the government's healthcare investments and accuses the opposition of politicising the issue.
AnsweredQoN 702Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PERTH CHILDREN'S
HOSPITAL — MENTAL HEALTH UNIT — ALLEGED SEXUAL ASSAULT
702. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Given that the Premier has stated that there were signs that were clearly
missed, why were the serious safety issues
not made a priority under his watch, given the number of reports pointing to
this ?
HOSPITAL — MENTAL HEALTH UNIT — ALLEGED SEXUAL ASSAULT
702. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Given that the Premier has stated that there were signs that were clearly
missed, why were the serious safety issues
not made a priority under his watch, given the number of reports pointing to
this ?
AnswerView source ↗
I am not quite sure what the premise
of the question is. What I think we should be looking at today is the excellent
response from the Minister for Health and the great work that she has done to
continue to make sure —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr R.H. COOK : — that
we understand and take into account the circumstances, investigate, and,
ultimately, remedy. That is the work she is doing. I think the community should
take great confidence from that, understanding that we have the resources to be
able to make these important investments because we have protected the state's
finances. We are committed to continuing to put patients at the centre of
everything we do and continuing to make improvements. That stands in contrast
with the outrageous, rank politicisation of these sorts of issues —
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Several members interjected.
Mr R.H. COOK : Madam Speaker,
I think the member's response today to this important issue speaks
volumes about the attitude and tone she has brought to this particular debate.
She continues to shout from the other benches, trying to interrupt me. She is trying to interrupt professionals who are
going about their work to continue to improve health care in Western Australia.
As I said, we have made record investments in health care in Western Australia—a
record $10 billion since 2021–22. That is another sign that this
government puts priority on our health care and the care of people in our
health system. We do not always get it right and our doctors and nurses working
on the front line do not always get it right, but it is important that we
provide the resources and support they need to continue to do amazing work on
behalf of the people of Western Australia. It is important that we continue to
make the investments we need so that those doctors and nurses can integrate the
best learnings of their discipline in the work that they do. We are very proud
of their work. What we are not proud of is the rank politicisation that takes
place around these sorts of issues. There have been accusations that there has
been some sort of veil of secrecy in relation to this, and yet we see all these
issues actually explained and set out in court cases, which are there for the
public to see.
We will continue to make sure that
we continue to improve our healthcare system, but what we will not do is listen to the ridiculous noise and the
politicisation of these issues from the other side. We will continue to work
with the people who are impacted by these incidents, learn the lessons
in relation to them, and continue to make the investments we need to ensure
that we have world-class health care in Western Australia.
of the question is. What I think we should be looking at today is the excellent
response from the Minister for Health and the great work that she has done to
continue to make sure —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr R.H. COOK : — that
we understand and take into account the circumstances, investigate, and,
ultimately, remedy. That is the work she is doing. I think the community should
take great confidence from that, understanding that we have the resources to be
able to make these important investments because we have protected the state's
finances. We are committed to continuing to put patients at the centre of
everything we do and continuing to make improvements. That stands in contrast
with the outrageous, rank politicisation of these sorts of issues —
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Several members interjected.
Mr R.H. COOK : Madam Speaker,
I think the member's response today to this important issue speaks
volumes about the attitude and tone she has brought to this particular debate.
She continues to shout from the other benches, trying to interrupt me. She is trying to interrupt professionals who are
going about their work to continue to improve health care in Western Australia.
As I said, we have made record investments in health care in Western Australia—a
record $10 billion since 2021–22. That is another sign that this
government puts priority on our health care and the care of people in our
health system. We do not always get it right and our doctors and nurses working
on the front line do not always get it right, but it is important that we
provide the resources and support they need to continue to do amazing work on
behalf of the people of Western Australia. It is important that we continue to
make the investments we need so that those doctors and nurses can integrate the
best learnings of their discipline in the work that they do. We are very proud
of their work. What we are not proud of is the rank politicisation that takes
place around these sorts of issues. There have been accusations that there has
been some sort of veil of secrecy in relation to this, and yet we see all these
issues actually explained and set out in court cases, which are there for the
public to see.
We will continue to make sure that
we continue to improve our healthcare system, but what we will not do is listen to the ridiculous noise and the
politicisation of these issues from the other side. We will continue to work
with the people who are impacted by these incidents, learn the lessons
in relation to them, and continue to make the investments we need to ensure
that we have world-class health care in Western Australia.
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