❓ Ms. Mettam questions the Minister for Health regarding delays to the Albany oncology service, despite federal funding. The Minister acknowledges delays but reaffirms the government's commitment to the project, citing external factors impacting construction.
AnsweredQoN 341Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ONCOLOGY SERVICE — ALBANY
341. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Health:
I
ask this question on behalf of Albany oncology service campaigner Mary
Williams. I refer to the federal government's 2017 $6.6 million
commitment to the $13 million radiation oncology service for Albany. Noting
reports that there has been a funding extension to June 2023, can the minister
guarantee the project will be completed and open to patients in September 2022
as promised?
341. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Health:
I
ask this question on behalf of Albany oncology service campaigner Mary
Williams. I refer to the federal government's 2017 $6.6 million
commitment to the $13 million radiation oncology service for Albany. Noting
reports that there has been a funding extension to June 2023, can the minister
guarantee the project will be completed and open to patients in September 2022
as promised?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for her question
on behalf of the local community.
The government is absolutely committed
to building and delivering the oncology unit. As we are all acutely aware,
there have been delays to building and construction. I was onsite a few weeks
ago. I think we have been very clear that there will be a few months'
delay in opening the oncology unit, but we have awarded the contract to the
service provider that will provide the service. It will be an incredible
oncology unit. We have every hope and intention of opening it this year, but
there are factors outside our control, and we are very open and frank with the
community about that. I met with the builders, who said to me they are losing
contractors onsite because they get better offers and go to other jobs. They
are all circumstances that are outside our control. We just heard the Minister
for Finance outline what the government is doing to support those contractors
to meet their obligations to subcontractors and meet the cost escalations, but
I assure the Albany community that only a Labor government is delivering this
unit. Only a Labor government is delivering at-home oncology. There will be a number
of chairs and they will face one of the most spectacular views in the world. It
is absolutely spectacular. We are building it. We have awarded a contract and
it will open as soon as humanly possible.
on behalf of the local community.
The government is absolutely committed
to building and delivering the oncology unit. As we are all acutely aware,
there have been delays to building and construction. I was onsite a few weeks
ago. I think we have been very clear that there will be a few months'
delay in opening the oncology unit, but we have awarded the contract to the
service provider that will provide the service. It will be an incredible
oncology unit. We have every hope and intention of opening it this year, but
there are factors outside our control, and we are very open and frank with the
community about that. I met with the builders, who said to me they are losing
contractors onsite because they get better offers and go to other jobs. They
are all circumstances that are outside our control. We just heard the Minister
for Finance outline what the government is doing to support those contractors
to meet their obligations to subcontractors and meet the cost escalations, but
I assure the Albany community that only a Labor government is delivering this
unit. Only a Labor government is delivering at-home oncology. There will be a number
of chairs and they will face one of the most spectacular views in the world. It
is absolutely spectacular. We are building it. We have awarded a contract and
it will open as soon as humanly possible.
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