❓ The Minister for Health criticises the federal budget for its lack of funding for WA's health system, highlighting cuts to PBS, outer metropolitan doctor programs, and cancer care, while noting inadequate funding for bowel cancer screening and obesity prevention. He contrasts this with state investment in medical research.
AnsweredQoN 237Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FEDERAL BUDGET - HEALTH SYSTEM
Can the minister advise the chamber what benefits there are for the Western Australian health system in the federal budget delivered last night? Mr J.A. McGINTY
Can the minister advise the chamber what benefits there are for the Western Australian health system in the federal budget delivered last night? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
People would not want to get sick under this budget. Unfortunately, the federal budget will be viewed by everyone associated with the health industry in Western Australia as a grave disappointment. The centrepiece of the federal budget when it came to health was the $1.9 billion mental health package. Unfortunately, this was all old news, having been announced several times before. The budget delivers nothing to get people better access to a doctor. I am sure every member sitting opposite knows, as do members on my side, of the problem of GP access. There is nothing in the budget to deal with that issue. There is nothing for our public hospitals. We all know of the problems facing our public hospitals. Not one cent has been allocated from the federal budget to assist our public hospitals to deal with the massive increase in demand that is now challenging service delivery in that area. What about the tidal wave of the new chronic disease, obesity and problems associated with being overweight, that is about to hit us? Not a cent has been allocated to deal with obesity prevention. Worst of all, there is a - Ms S.E. Walker : What hypocrisy! The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY : Worst of all, there is a $260 million cut to the pharmaceutical benefits scheme that each member opposite will have to explain to people, particularly the elderly, when they come into his or her electorate office. There is no evidence whatsoever that these drugs are not needed, yet the federal government has cut the availability of drugs to people in Western Australia, as they have throughout Australia. This will do two things. It will particularly hurt pensioners. It will also mean that more people will end up in hospital as a result of not being appropriately medicated in the community. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY : There are other cutbacks to health in the federal budget that I am sure all members will be vitally interested in. The federal government has taken $1.5 million from the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Areas program. Maybe members opposite do not care particularly since they do not have any outer metropolitan seats. We do because we represent those people. We have seen a cut in the federal government’s funding for the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Regions program. What about cancer patients? What does the federal government have in this budget for cancer patients? It has ripped money from the Better Access to Radiation Oncology program. It has cut cancer care for people. A total of $6 million has been ripped out of that program. It has also made inadequate provision for its own national bowel cancer screening program, which was due to start last month. It has not started anywhere in Australia because it has been inadequately funded and it is a dud model. We will do our best to cooperate with the federal government to provide this important extension to service but, typical of all the other health matters covered in the federal budget, it is cutting funding rather than providing it where it is desperately needed. Let me give members the best of the lot. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time and I direct her to withdraw that comment. Ms S.E. WALKER : I withdraw, Mr Speaker. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.A. McGINTY : The federal budget announced a program of investment of $213 million for infrastructure in capital works for medical research organisations. That is fantastic because every member in this place will know that recently the Premier announced two new medical research establishments in Western Australia, one at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and one to be constructed at the Fiona Stanley hospital site. We have put in $50 million, supported by the universities, to these very important establishments. What did the federal government do? It allocated $50 million to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, $22 million for a national stem cell research centre in Griffith University and $163 million for a variety of development and expansion projects. All these projects are in the eastern states. Not one cent has been allocated for medical research in Western Australia. I conclude on this note. In case members think I am making a partisan point, I will quote what the president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said about the 2006 federal health budget. According to my notes, he said - A grab bag of low cost dot point initiatives. With the budget surplus screaming out for big ticket items, we find ourselves in the health policy two dollar shop. There is nothing for public hospitals. There is very little for indigenous Australians. This is a massive missed opportunity. At a time of massive budget surplus, we see no big picture for health. To compound that very valid criticism, Western Australia has been totally neglected.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: People would not want to get sick under this budget. Unfortunately, the federal budget will be viewed by everyone associated with the health industry in Western Australia as a grave disappointment. The centrepiece of the federal budget when it came to health was the $1.9 billion mental health package. Unfortunately, this was all old news, having been announced several times before. The budget delivers nothing to get people better access to a doctor. I am sure every member sitting opposite knows, as do members on my side, of the problem of GP access. There is nothing in the budget to deal with that issue. There is nothing for our public hospitals. We all know of the problems facing our public hospitals. Not one cent has been allocated from the federal budget to assist our public hospitals to deal with the massive increase in demand that is now challenging service delivery in that area. What about the tidal wave of the new chronic disease, obesity and problems associated with being overweight, that is about to hit us? Not a cent has been allocated to deal with obesity prevention. Worst of all, there is a - Ms S.E. Walker : What hypocrisy! The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY : Worst of all, there is a $260 million cut to the pharmaceutical benefits scheme that each member opposite will have to explain to people, particularly the elderly, when they come into his or her electorate office. There is no evidence whatsoever that these drugs are not needed, yet the federal government has cut the availability of drugs to people in Western Australia, as they have throughout Australia. This will do two things. It will particularly hurt pensioners. It will also mean that more people will end up in hospital as a result of not being appropriately medicated in the community. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY : There are other cutbacks to health in the federal budget that I am sure all members will be vitally interested in. The federal government has taken $1.5 million from the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Areas program. Maybe members opposite do not care particularly since they do not have any outer metropolitan seats. We do because we represent those people. We have seen a cut in the federal government’s funding for the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Regions program. What about cancer patients? What does the federal government have in this budget for cancer patients? It has ripped money from the Better Access to Radiation Oncology program. It has cut cancer care for people. A total of $6 million has been ripped out of that program. It has also made inadequate provision for its own national bowel cancer screening program, which was due to start last month. It has not started anywhere in Australia because it has been inadequately funded and it is a dud model. We will do our best to cooperate with the federal government to provide this important extension to service but, typical of all the other health matters covered in the federal budget, it is cutting funding rather than providing it where it is desperately needed. Let me give members the best of the lot. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time and I direct her to withdraw that comment. Ms S.E. WALKER : I withdraw, Mr Speaker. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.A. McGINTY : The federal budget announced a program of investment of $213 million for infrastructure in capital works for medical research organisations. That is fantastic because every member in this place will know that recently the Premier announced two new medical research establishments in Western Australia, one at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and one to be constructed at the Fiona Stanley hospital site. We have put in $50 million, supported by the universities, to these very important establishments. What did the federal government do? It allocated $50 million to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, $22 million for a national stem cell research centre in Griffith University and $163 million for a variety of development and expansion projects. All these projects are in the eastern states. Not one cent has been allocated for medical research in Western Australia. I conclude on this note. In case members think I am making a partisan point, I will quote what the president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said about the 2006 federal health budget. According to my notes, he said - A grab bag of low cost dot point initiatives. With the budget surplus screaming out for big ticket items, we find ourselves in the health policy two dollar shop. There is nothing for public hospitals. There is very little for indigenous Australians. This is a massive missed opportunity. At a time of massive budget surplus, we see no big picture for health. To compound that very valid criticism, Western Australia has been totally neglected.
People would not want to get sick under this budget. Unfortunately, the federal budget will be viewed by everyone associated with the health industry in Western Australia as a grave disappointment. The centrepiece of the federal budget when it came to health was the $1.9 billion mental health package. Unfortunately, this was all old news, having been announced several times before. The budget delivers nothing to get people better access to a doctor. I am sure every member sitting opposite knows, as do members on my side, of the problem of GP access. There is nothing in the budget to deal with that issue. There is nothing for our public hospitals. We all know of the problems facing our public hospitals. Not one cent has been allocated from the federal budget to assist our public hospitals to deal with the massive increase in demand that is now challenging service delivery in that area. What about the tidal wave of the new chronic disease, obesity and problems associated with being overweight, that is about to hit us? Not a cent has been allocated to deal with obesity prevention. Worst of all, there is a - Ms S.E. Walker : What hypocrisy! The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY : Worst of all, there is a $260 million cut to the pharmaceutical benefits scheme that each member opposite will have to explain to people, particularly the elderly, when they come into his or her electorate office. There is no evidence whatsoever that these drugs are not needed, yet the federal government has cut the availability of drugs to people in Western Australia, as they have throughout Australia. This will do two things. It will particularly hurt pensioners. It will also mean that more people will end up in hospital as a result of not being appropriately medicated in the community. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY : There are other cutbacks to health in the federal budget that I am sure all members will be vitally interested in. The federal government has taken $1.5 million from the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Areas program. Maybe members opposite do not care particularly since they do not have any outer metropolitan seats. We do because we represent those people. We have seen a cut in the federal government’s funding for the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Regions program. What about cancer patients? What does the federal government have in this budget for cancer patients? It has ripped money from the Better Access to Radiation Oncology program. It has cut cancer care for people. A total of $6 million has been ripped out of that program. It has also made inadequate provision for its own national bowel cancer screening program, which was due to start last month. It has not started anywhere in Australia because it has been inadequately funded and it is a dud model. We will do our best to cooperate with the federal government to provide this important extension to service but, typical of all the other health matters covered in the federal budget, it is cutting funding rather than providing it where it is desperately needed. Let me give members the best of the lot. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time and I direct her to withdraw that comment. Ms S.E. WALKER : I withdraw, Mr Speaker. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.A. McGINTY : The federal budget announced a program of investment of $213 million for infrastructure in capital works for medical research organisations. That is fantastic because every member in this place will know that recently the Premier announced two new medical research establishments in Western Australia, one at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and one to be constructed at the Fiona Stanley hospital site. We have put in $50 million, supported by the universities, to these very important establishments. What did the federal government do? It allocated $50 million to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, $22 million for a national stem cell research centre in Griffith University and $163 million for a variety of development and expansion projects. All these projects are in the eastern states. Not one cent has been allocated for medical research in Western Australia. I conclude on this note. In case members think I am making a partisan point, I will quote what the president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said about the 2006 federal health budget. According to my notes, he said - A grab bag of low cost dot point initiatives. With the budget surplus screaming out for big ticket items, we find ourselves in the health policy two dollar shop. There is nothing for public hospitals. There is very little for indigenous Australians. This is a massive missed opportunity. At a time of massive budget surplus, we see no big picture for health. To compound that very valid criticism, Western Australia has been totally neglected.
Ms S.E. Walker : What hypocrisy! The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY : Worst of all, there is a $260 million cut to the pharmaceutical benefits scheme that each member opposite will have to explain to people, particularly the elderly, when they come into his or her electorate office. There is no evidence whatsoever that these drugs are not needed, yet the federal government has cut the availability of drugs to people in Western Australia, as they have throughout Australia. This will do two things. It will particularly hurt pensioners. It will also mean that more people will end up in hospital as a result of not being appropriately medicated in the community. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY : There are other cutbacks to health in the federal budget that I am sure all members will be vitally interested in. The federal government has taken $1.5 million from the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Areas program. Maybe members opposite do not care particularly since they do not have any outer metropolitan seats. We do because we represent those people. We have seen a cut in the federal government’s funding for the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Regions program. What about cancer patients? What does the federal government have in this budget for cancer patients? It has ripped money from the Better Access to Radiation Oncology program. It has cut cancer care for people. A total of $6 million has been ripped out of that program. It has also made inadequate provision for its own national bowel cancer screening program, which was due to start last month. It has not started anywhere in Australia because it has been inadequately funded and it is a dud model. We will do our best to cooperate with the federal government to provide this important extension to service but, typical of all the other health matters covered in the federal budget, it is cutting funding rather than providing it where it is desperately needed. Let me give members the best of the lot. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time and I direct her to withdraw that comment. Ms S.E. WALKER : I withdraw, Mr Speaker. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.A. McGINTY : The federal budget announced a program of investment of $213 million for infrastructure in capital works for medical research organisations. That is fantastic because every member in this place will know that recently the Premier announced two new medical research establishments in Western Australia, one at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and one to be constructed at the Fiona Stanley hospital site. We have put in $50 million, supported by the universities, to these very important establishments. What did the federal government do? It allocated $50 million to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, $22 million for a national stem cell research centre in Griffith University and $163 million for a variety of development and expansion projects. All these projects are in the eastern states. Not one cent has been allocated for medical research in Western Australia. I conclude on this note. In case members think I am making a partisan point, I will quote what the president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said about the 2006 federal health budget. According to my notes, he said - A grab bag of low cost dot point initiatives. With the budget surplus screaming out for big ticket items, we find ourselves in the health policy two dollar shop. There is nothing for public hospitals. There is very little for indigenous Australians. This is a massive missed opportunity. At a time of massive budget surplus, we see no big picture for health. To compound that very valid criticism, Western Australia has been totally neglected.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY : Worst of all, there is a $260 million cut to the pharmaceutical benefits scheme that each member opposite will have to explain to people, particularly the elderly, when they come into his or her electorate office. There is no evidence whatsoever that these drugs are not needed, yet the federal government has cut the availability of drugs to people in Western Australia, as they have throughout Australia. This will do two things. It will particularly hurt pensioners. It will also mean that more people will end up in hospital as a result of not being appropriately medicated in the community. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY : There are other cutbacks to health in the federal budget that I am sure all members will be vitally interested in. The federal government has taken $1.5 million from the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Areas program. Maybe members opposite do not care particularly since they do not have any outer metropolitan seats. We do because we represent those people. We have seen a cut in the federal government’s funding for the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Regions program. What about cancer patients? What does the federal government have in this budget for cancer patients? It has ripped money from the Better Access to Radiation Oncology program. It has cut cancer care for people. A total of $6 million has been ripped out of that program. It has also made inadequate provision for its own national bowel cancer screening program, which was due to start last month. It has not started anywhere in Australia because it has been inadequately funded and it is a dud model. We will do our best to cooperate with the federal government to provide this important extension to service but, typical of all the other health matters covered in the federal budget, it is cutting funding rather than providing it where it is desperately needed. Let me give members the best of the lot. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time and I direct her to withdraw that comment. Ms S.E. WALKER : I withdraw, Mr Speaker. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.A. McGINTY : The federal budget announced a program of investment of $213 million for infrastructure in capital works for medical research organisations. That is fantastic because every member in this place will know that recently the Premier announced two new medical research establishments in Western Australia, one at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and one to be constructed at the Fiona Stanley hospital site. We have put in $50 million, supported by the universities, to these very important establishments. What did the federal government do? It allocated $50 million to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, $22 million for a national stem cell research centre in Griffith University and $163 million for a variety of development and expansion projects. All these projects are in the eastern states. Not one cent has been allocated for medical research in Western Australia. I conclude on this note. In case members think I am making a partisan point, I will quote what the president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said about the 2006 federal health budget. According to my notes, he said - A grab bag of low cost dot point initiatives. With the budget surplus screaming out for big ticket items, we find ourselves in the health policy two dollar shop. There is nothing for public hospitals. There is very little for indigenous Australians. This is a massive missed opportunity. At a time of massive budget surplus, we see no big picture for health. To compound that very valid criticism, Western Australia has been totally neglected.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : Worst of all, there is a $260 million cut to the pharmaceutical benefits scheme that each member opposite will have to explain to people, particularly the elderly, when they come into his or her electorate office. There is no evidence whatsoever that these drugs are not needed, yet the federal government has cut the availability of drugs to people in Western Australia, as they have throughout Australia. This will do two things. It will particularly hurt pensioners. It will also mean that more people will end up in hospital as a result of not being appropriately medicated in the community. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY : There are other cutbacks to health in the federal budget that I am sure all members will be vitally interested in. The federal government has taken $1.5 million from the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Areas program. Maybe members opposite do not care particularly since they do not have any outer metropolitan seats. We do because we represent those people. We have seen a cut in the federal government’s funding for the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Regions program. What about cancer patients? What does the federal government have in this budget for cancer patients? It has ripped money from the Better Access to Radiation Oncology program. It has cut cancer care for people. A total of $6 million has been ripped out of that program. It has also made inadequate provision for its own national bowel cancer screening program, which was due to start last month. It has not started anywhere in Australia because it has been inadequately funded and it is a dud model. We will do our best to cooperate with the federal government to provide this important extension to service but, typical of all the other health matters covered in the federal budget, it is cutting funding rather than providing it where it is desperately needed. Let me give members the best of the lot. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time and I direct her to withdraw that comment. Ms S.E. WALKER : I withdraw, Mr Speaker. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.A. McGINTY : The federal budget announced a program of investment of $213 million for infrastructure in capital works for medical research organisations. That is fantastic because every member in this place will know that recently the Premier announced two new medical research establishments in Western Australia, one at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and one to be constructed at the Fiona Stanley hospital site. We have put in $50 million, supported by the universities, to these very important establishments. What did the federal government do? It allocated $50 million to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, $22 million for a national stem cell research centre in Griffith University and $163 million for a variety of development and expansion projects. All these projects are in the eastern states. Not one cent has been allocated for medical research in Western Australia. I conclude on this note. In case members think I am making a partisan point, I will quote what the president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said about the 2006 federal health budget. According to my notes, he said - A grab bag of low cost dot point initiatives. With the budget surplus screaming out for big ticket items, we find ourselves in the health policy two dollar shop. There is nothing for public hospitals. There is very little for indigenous Australians. This is a massive missed opportunity. At a time of massive budget surplus, we see no big picture for health. To compound that very valid criticism, Western Australia has been totally neglected.
Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY : There are other cutbacks to health in the federal budget that I am sure all members will be vitally interested in. The federal government has taken $1.5 million from the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Areas program. Maybe members opposite do not care particularly since they do not have any outer metropolitan seats. We do because we represent those people. We have seen a cut in the federal government’s funding for the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Regions program. What about cancer patients? What does the federal government have in this budget for cancer patients? It has ripped money from the Better Access to Radiation Oncology program. It has cut cancer care for people. A total of $6 million has been ripped out of that program. It has also made inadequate provision for its own national bowel cancer screening program, which was due to start last month. It has not started anywhere in Australia because it has been inadequately funded and it is a dud model. We will do our best to cooperate with the federal government to provide this important extension to service but, typical of all the other health matters covered in the federal budget, it is cutting funding rather than providing it where it is desperately needed. Let me give members the best of the lot. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time and I direct her to withdraw that comment. Ms S.E. WALKER : I withdraw, Mr Speaker. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.A. McGINTY : The federal budget announced a program of investment of $213 million for infrastructure in capital works for medical research organisations. That is fantastic because every member in this place will know that recently the Premier announced two new medical research establishments in Western Australia, one at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and one to be constructed at the Fiona Stanley hospital site. We have put in $50 million, supported by the universities, to these very important establishments. What did the federal government do? It allocated $50 million to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, $22 million for a national stem cell research centre in Griffith University and $163 million for a variety of development and expansion projects. All these projects are in the eastern states. Not one cent has been allocated for medical research in Western Australia. I conclude on this note. In case members think I am making a partisan point, I will quote what the president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said about the 2006 federal health budget. According to my notes, he said - A grab bag of low cost dot point initiatives. With the budget surplus screaming out for big ticket items, we find ourselves in the health policy two dollar shop. There is nothing for public hospitals. There is very little for indigenous Australians. This is a massive missed opportunity. At a time of massive budget surplus, we see no big picture for health. To compound that very valid criticism, Western Australia has been totally neglected.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY : There are other cutbacks to health in the federal budget that I am sure all members will be vitally interested in. The federal government has taken $1.5 million from the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Areas program. Maybe members opposite do not care particularly since they do not have any outer metropolitan seats. We do because we represent those people. We have seen a cut in the federal government’s funding for the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Regions program. What about cancer patients? What does the federal government have in this budget for cancer patients? It has ripped money from the Better Access to Radiation Oncology program. It has cut cancer care for people. A total of $6 million has been ripped out of that program. It has also made inadequate provision for its own national bowel cancer screening program, which was due to start last month. It has not started anywhere in Australia because it has been inadequately funded and it is a dud model. We will do our best to cooperate with the federal government to provide this important extension to service but, typical of all the other health matters covered in the federal budget, it is cutting funding rather than providing it where it is desperately needed. Let me give members the best of the lot. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time and I direct her to withdraw that comment. Ms S.E. WALKER : I withdraw, Mr Speaker. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.A. McGINTY : The federal budget announced a program of investment of $213 million for infrastructure in capital works for medical research organisations. That is fantastic because every member in this place will know that recently the Premier announced two new medical research establishments in Western Australia, one at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and one to be constructed at the Fiona Stanley hospital site. We have put in $50 million, supported by the universities, to these very important establishments. What did the federal government do? It allocated $50 million to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, $22 million for a national stem cell research centre in Griffith University and $163 million for a variety of development and expansion projects. All these projects are in the eastern states. Not one cent has been allocated for medical research in Western Australia. I conclude on this note. In case members think I am making a partisan point, I will quote what the president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said about the 2006 federal health budget. According to my notes, he said - A grab bag of low cost dot point initiatives. With the budget surplus screaming out for big ticket items, we find ourselves in the health policy two dollar shop. There is nothing for public hospitals. There is very little for indigenous Australians. This is a massive missed opportunity. At a time of massive budget surplus, we see no big picture for health. To compound that very valid criticism, Western Australia has been totally neglected.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : There are other cutbacks to health in the federal budget that I am sure all members will be vitally interested in. The federal government has taken $1.5 million from the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Areas program. Maybe members opposite do not care particularly since they do not have any outer metropolitan seats. We do because we represent those people. We have seen a cut in the federal government’s funding for the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Regions program. What about cancer patients? What does the federal government have in this budget for cancer patients? It has ripped money from the Better Access to Radiation Oncology program. It has cut cancer care for people. A total of $6 million has been ripped out of that program. It has also made inadequate provision for its own national bowel cancer screening program, which was due to start last month. It has not started anywhere in Australia because it has been inadequately funded and it is a dud model. We will do our best to cooperate with the federal government to provide this important extension to service but, typical of all the other health matters covered in the federal budget, it is cutting funding rather than providing it where it is desperately needed. Let me give members the best of the lot. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time and I direct her to withdraw that comment. Ms S.E. WALKER : I withdraw, Mr Speaker. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.A. McGINTY : The federal budget announced a program of investment of $213 million for infrastructure in capital works for medical research organisations. That is fantastic because every member in this place will know that recently the Premier announced two new medical research establishments in Western Australia, one at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and one to be constructed at the Fiona Stanley hospital site. We have put in $50 million, supported by the universities, to these very important establishments. What did the federal government do? It allocated $50 million to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, $22 million for a national stem cell research centre in Griffith University and $163 million for a variety of development and expansion projects. All these projects are in the eastern states. Not one cent has been allocated for medical research in Western Australia. I conclude on this note. In case members think I am making a partisan point, I will quote what the president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said about the 2006 federal health budget. According to my notes, he said - A grab bag of low cost dot point initiatives. With the budget surplus screaming out for big ticket items, we find ourselves in the health policy two dollar shop. There is nothing for public hospitals. There is very little for indigenous Australians. This is a massive missed opportunity. At a time of massive budget surplus, we see no big picture for health. To compound that very valid criticism, Western Australia has been totally neglected.
Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time and I direct her to withdraw that comment. Ms S.E. WALKER : I withdraw, Mr Speaker. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.A. McGINTY : The federal budget announced a program of investment of $213 million for infrastructure in capital works for medical research organisations. That is fantastic because every member in this place will know that recently the Premier announced two new medical research establishments in Western Australia, one at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and one to be constructed at the Fiona Stanley hospital site. We have put in $50 million, supported by the universities, to these very important establishments. What did the federal government do? It allocated $50 million to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, $22 million for a national stem cell research centre in Griffith University and $163 million for a variety of development and expansion projects. All these projects are in the eastern states. Not one cent has been allocated for medical research in Western Australia. I conclude on this note. In case members think I am making a partisan point, I will quote what the president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said about the 2006 federal health budget. According to my notes, he said - A grab bag of low cost dot point initiatives. With the budget surplus screaming out for big ticket items, we find ourselves in the health policy two dollar shop. There is nothing for public hospitals. There is very little for indigenous Australians. This is a massive missed opportunity. At a time of massive budget surplus, we see no big picture for health. To compound that very valid criticism, Western Australia has been totally neglected.
Ms S.E. WALKER : I withdraw, Mr Speaker. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.A. McGINTY : The federal budget announced a program of investment of $213 million for infrastructure in capital works for medical research organisations. That is fantastic because every member in this place will know that recently the Premier announced two new medical research establishments in Western Australia, one at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and one to be constructed at the Fiona Stanley hospital site. We have put in $50 million, supported by the universities, to these very important establishments. What did the federal government do? It allocated $50 million to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, $22 million for a national stem cell research centre in Griffith University and $163 million for a variety of development and expansion projects. All these projects are in the eastern states. Not one cent has been allocated for medical research in Western Australia. I conclude on this note. In case members think I am making a partisan point, I will quote what the president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said about the 2006 federal health budget. According to my notes, he said - A grab bag of low cost dot point initiatives. With the budget surplus screaming out for big ticket items, we find ourselves in the health policy two dollar shop. There is nothing for public hospitals. There is very little for indigenous Australians. This is a massive missed opportunity. At a time of massive budget surplus, we see no big picture for health. To compound that very valid criticism, Western Australia has been totally neglected.
I conclude on this note. In case members think I am making a partisan point, I will quote what the president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said about the 2006 federal health budget. According to my notes, he said - A grab bag of low cost dot point initiatives. With the budget surplus screaming out for big ticket items, we find ourselves in the health policy two dollar shop. There is nothing for public hospitals. There is very little for indigenous Australians. This is a massive missed opportunity. At a time of massive budget surplus, we see no big picture for health. To compound that very valid criticism, Western Australia has been totally neglected.
With the budget surplus screaming out for big ticket items, we find ourselves in the health policy two dollar shop. There is nothing for public hospitals.
There is nothing for public hospitals.
This is a massive missed opportunity. At a time of massive budget surplus, we see no big picture for health. To compound that very valid criticism, Western Australia has been totally neglected.
To compound that very valid criticism, Western Australia has been totally neglected.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: People would not want to get sick under this budget. Unfortunately, the federal budget will be viewed by everyone associated with the health industry in Western Australia as a grave disappointment. The centrepiece of the federal budget when it came to health was the $1.9 billion mental health package. Unfortunately, this was all old news, having been announced several times before. The budget delivers nothing to get people better access to a doctor. I am sure every member sitting opposite knows, as do members on my side, of the problem of GP access. There is nothing in the budget to deal with that issue. There is nothing for our public hospitals. We all know of the problems facing our public hospitals. Not one cent has been allocated from the federal budget to assist our public hospitals to deal with the massive increase in demand that is now challenging service delivery in that area. What about the tidal wave of the new chronic disease, obesity and problems associated with being overweight, that is about to hit us? Not a cent has been allocated to deal with obesity prevention. Worst of all, there is a - Ms S.E. Walker : What hypocrisy! The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY : Worst of all, there is a $260 million cut to the pharmaceutical benefits scheme that each member opposite will have to explain to people, particularly the elderly, when they come into his or her electorate office. There is no evidence whatsoever that these drugs are not needed, yet the federal government has cut the availability of drugs to people in Western Australia, as they have throughout Australia. This will do two things. It will particularly hurt pensioners. It will also mean that more people will end up in hospital as a result of not being appropriately medicated in the community. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY : There are other cutbacks to health in the federal budget that I am sure all members will be vitally interested in. The federal government has taken $1.5 million from the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Areas program. Maybe members opposite do not care particularly since they do not have any outer metropolitan seats. We do because we represent those people. We have seen a cut in the federal government’s funding for the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Regions program. What about cancer patients? What does the federal government have in this budget for cancer patients? It has ripped money from the Better Access to Radiation Oncology program. It has cut cancer care for people. A total of $6 million has been ripped out of that program. It has also made inadequate provision for its own national bowel cancer screening program, which was due to start last month. It has not started anywhere in Australia because it has been inadequately funded and it is a dud model. We will do our best to cooperate with the federal government to provide this important extension to service but, typical of all the other health matters covered in the federal budget, it is cutting funding rather than providing it where it is desperately needed. Let me give members the best of the lot. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time and I direct her to withdraw that comment. Ms S.E. WALKER : I withdraw, Mr Speaker. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.A. McGINTY : The federal budget announced a program of investment of $213 million for infrastructure in capital works for medical research organisations. That is fantastic because every member in this place will know that recently the Premier announced two new medical research establishments in Western Australia, one at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and one to be constructed at the Fiona Stanley hospital site. We have put in $50 million, supported by the universities, to these very important establishments. What did the federal government do? It allocated $50 million to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, $22 million for a national stem cell research centre in Griffith University and $163 million for a variety of development and expansion projects. All these projects are in the eastern states. Not one cent has been allocated for medical research in Western Australia. I conclude on this note. In case members think I am making a partisan point, I will quote what the president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said about the 2006 federal health budget. According to my notes, he said - A grab bag of low cost dot point initiatives. With the budget surplus screaming out for big ticket items, we find ourselves in the health policy two dollar shop. There is nothing for public hospitals. There is very little for indigenous Australians. This is a massive missed opportunity. At a time of massive budget surplus, we see no big picture for health. To compound that very valid criticism, Western Australia has been totally neglected.
People would not want to get sick under this budget. Unfortunately, the federal budget will be viewed by everyone associated with the health industry in Western Australia as a grave disappointment. The centrepiece of the federal budget when it came to health was the $1.9 billion mental health package. Unfortunately, this was all old news, having been announced several times before. The budget delivers nothing to get people better access to a doctor. I am sure every member sitting opposite knows, as do members on my side, of the problem of GP access. There is nothing in the budget to deal with that issue. There is nothing for our public hospitals. We all know of the problems facing our public hospitals. Not one cent has been allocated from the federal budget to assist our public hospitals to deal with the massive increase in demand that is now challenging service delivery in that area. What about the tidal wave of the new chronic disease, obesity and problems associated with being overweight, that is about to hit us? Not a cent has been allocated to deal with obesity prevention. Worst of all, there is a - Ms S.E. Walker : What hypocrisy! The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY : Worst of all, there is a $260 million cut to the pharmaceutical benefits scheme that each member opposite will have to explain to people, particularly the elderly, when they come into his or her electorate office. There is no evidence whatsoever that these drugs are not needed, yet the federal government has cut the availability of drugs to people in Western Australia, as they have throughout Australia. This will do two things. It will particularly hurt pensioners. It will also mean that more people will end up in hospital as a result of not being appropriately medicated in the community. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY : There are other cutbacks to health in the federal budget that I am sure all members will be vitally interested in. The federal government has taken $1.5 million from the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Areas program. Maybe members opposite do not care particularly since they do not have any outer metropolitan seats. We do because we represent those people. We have seen a cut in the federal government’s funding for the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Regions program. What about cancer patients? What does the federal government have in this budget for cancer patients? It has ripped money from the Better Access to Radiation Oncology program. It has cut cancer care for people. A total of $6 million has been ripped out of that program. It has also made inadequate provision for its own national bowel cancer screening program, which was due to start last month. It has not started anywhere in Australia because it has been inadequately funded and it is a dud model. We will do our best to cooperate with the federal government to provide this important extension to service but, typical of all the other health matters covered in the federal budget, it is cutting funding rather than providing it where it is desperately needed. Let me give members the best of the lot. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time and I direct her to withdraw that comment. Ms S.E. WALKER : I withdraw, Mr Speaker. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.A. McGINTY : The federal budget announced a program of investment of $213 million for infrastructure in capital works for medical research organisations. That is fantastic because every member in this place will know that recently the Premier announced two new medical research establishments in Western Australia, one at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and one to be constructed at the Fiona Stanley hospital site. We have put in $50 million, supported by the universities, to these very important establishments. What did the federal government do? It allocated $50 million to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, $22 million for a national stem cell research centre in Griffith University and $163 million for a variety of development and expansion projects. All these projects are in the eastern states. Not one cent has been allocated for medical research in Western Australia. I conclude on this note. In case members think I am making a partisan point, I will quote what the president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said about the 2006 federal health budget. According to my notes, he said - A grab bag of low cost dot point initiatives. With the budget surplus screaming out for big ticket items, we find ourselves in the health policy two dollar shop. There is nothing for public hospitals. There is very little for indigenous Australians. This is a massive missed opportunity. At a time of massive budget surplus, we see no big picture for health. To compound that very valid criticism, Western Australia has been totally neglected.
Ms S.E. Walker : What hypocrisy! The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY : Worst of all, there is a $260 million cut to the pharmaceutical benefits scheme that each member opposite will have to explain to people, particularly the elderly, when they come into his or her electorate office. There is no evidence whatsoever that these drugs are not needed, yet the federal government has cut the availability of drugs to people in Western Australia, as they have throughout Australia. This will do two things. It will particularly hurt pensioners. It will also mean that more people will end up in hospital as a result of not being appropriately medicated in the community. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY : There are other cutbacks to health in the federal budget that I am sure all members will be vitally interested in. The federal government has taken $1.5 million from the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Areas program. Maybe members opposite do not care particularly since they do not have any outer metropolitan seats. We do because we represent those people. We have seen a cut in the federal government’s funding for the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Regions program. What about cancer patients? What does the federal government have in this budget for cancer patients? It has ripped money from the Better Access to Radiation Oncology program. It has cut cancer care for people. A total of $6 million has been ripped out of that program. It has also made inadequate provision for its own national bowel cancer screening program, which was due to start last month. It has not started anywhere in Australia because it has been inadequately funded and it is a dud model. We will do our best to cooperate with the federal government to provide this important extension to service but, typical of all the other health matters covered in the federal budget, it is cutting funding rather than providing it where it is desperately needed. Let me give members the best of the lot. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time and I direct her to withdraw that comment. Ms S.E. WALKER : I withdraw, Mr Speaker. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.A. McGINTY : The federal budget announced a program of investment of $213 million for infrastructure in capital works for medical research organisations. That is fantastic because every member in this place will know that recently the Premier announced two new medical research establishments in Western Australia, one at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and one to be constructed at the Fiona Stanley hospital site. We have put in $50 million, supported by the universities, to these very important establishments. What did the federal government do? It allocated $50 million to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, $22 million for a national stem cell research centre in Griffith University and $163 million for a variety of development and expansion projects. All these projects are in the eastern states. Not one cent has been allocated for medical research in Western Australia. I conclude on this note. In case members think I am making a partisan point, I will quote what the president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said about the 2006 federal health budget. According to my notes, he said - A grab bag of low cost dot point initiatives. With the budget surplus screaming out for big ticket items, we find ourselves in the health policy two dollar shop. There is nothing for public hospitals. There is very little for indigenous Australians. This is a massive missed opportunity. At a time of massive budget surplus, we see no big picture for health. To compound that very valid criticism, Western Australia has been totally neglected.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY : Worst of all, there is a $260 million cut to the pharmaceutical benefits scheme that each member opposite will have to explain to people, particularly the elderly, when they come into his or her electorate office. There is no evidence whatsoever that these drugs are not needed, yet the federal government has cut the availability of drugs to people in Western Australia, as they have throughout Australia. This will do two things. It will particularly hurt pensioners. It will also mean that more people will end up in hospital as a result of not being appropriately medicated in the community. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY : There are other cutbacks to health in the federal budget that I am sure all members will be vitally interested in. The federal government has taken $1.5 million from the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Areas program. Maybe members opposite do not care particularly since they do not have any outer metropolitan seats. We do because we represent those people. We have seen a cut in the federal government’s funding for the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Regions program. What about cancer patients? What does the federal government have in this budget for cancer patients? It has ripped money from the Better Access to Radiation Oncology program. It has cut cancer care for people. A total of $6 million has been ripped out of that program. It has also made inadequate provision for its own national bowel cancer screening program, which was due to start last month. It has not started anywhere in Australia because it has been inadequately funded and it is a dud model. We will do our best to cooperate with the federal government to provide this important extension to service but, typical of all the other health matters covered in the federal budget, it is cutting funding rather than providing it where it is desperately needed. Let me give members the best of the lot. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time and I direct her to withdraw that comment. Ms S.E. WALKER : I withdraw, Mr Speaker. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.A. McGINTY : The federal budget announced a program of investment of $213 million for infrastructure in capital works for medical research organisations. That is fantastic because every member in this place will know that recently the Premier announced two new medical research establishments in Western Australia, one at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and one to be constructed at the Fiona Stanley hospital site. We have put in $50 million, supported by the universities, to these very important establishments. What did the federal government do? It allocated $50 million to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, $22 million for a national stem cell research centre in Griffith University and $163 million for a variety of development and expansion projects. All these projects are in the eastern states. Not one cent has been allocated for medical research in Western Australia. I conclude on this note. In case members think I am making a partisan point, I will quote what the president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said about the 2006 federal health budget. According to my notes, he said - A grab bag of low cost dot point initiatives. With the budget surplus screaming out for big ticket items, we find ourselves in the health policy two dollar shop. There is nothing for public hospitals. There is very little for indigenous Australians. This is a massive missed opportunity. At a time of massive budget surplus, we see no big picture for health. To compound that very valid criticism, Western Australia has been totally neglected.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : Worst of all, there is a $260 million cut to the pharmaceutical benefits scheme that each member opposite will have to explain to people, particularly the elderly, when they come into his or her electorate office. There is no evidence whatsoever that these drugs are not needed, yet the federal government has cut the availability of drugs to people in Western Australia, as they have throughout Australia. This will do two things. It will particularly hurt pensioners. It will also mean that more people will end up in hospital as a result of not being appropriately medicated in the community. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY : There are other cutbacks to health in the federal budget that I am sure all members will be vitally interested in. The federal government has taken $1.5 million from the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Areas program. Maybe members opposite do not care particularly since they do not have any outer metropolitan seats. We do because we represent those people. We have seen a cut in the federal government’s funding for the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Regions program. What about cancer patients? What does the federal government have in this budget for cancer patients? It has ripped money from the Better Access to Radiation Oncology program. It has cut cancer care for people. A total of $6 million has been ripped out of that program. It has also made inadequate provision for its own national bowel cancer screening program, which was due to start last month. It has not started anywhere in Australia because it has been inadequately funded and it is a dud model. We will do our best to cooperate with the federal government to provide this important extension to service but, typical of all the other health matters covered in the federal budget, it is cutting funding rather than providing it where it is desperately needed. Let me give members the best of the lot. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time and I direct her to withdraw that comment. Ms S.E. WALKER : I withdraw, Mr Speaker. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.A. McGINTY : The federal budget announced a program of investment of $213 million for infrastructure in capital works for medical research organisations. That is fantastic because every member in this place will know that recently the Premier announced two new medical research establishments in Western Australia, one at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and one to be constructed at the Fiona Stanley hospital site. We have put in $50 million, supported by the universities, to these very important establishments. What did the federal government do? It allocated $50 million to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, $22 million for a national stem cell research centre in Griffith University and $163 million for a variety of development and expansion projects. All these projects are in the eastern states. Not one cent has been allocated for medical research in Western Australia. I conclude on this note. In case members think I am making a partisan point, I will quote what the president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said about the 2006 federal health budget. According to my notes, he said - A grab bag of low cost dot point initiatives. With the budget surplus screaming out for big ticket items, we find ourselves in the health policy two dollar shop. There is nothing for public hospitals. There is very little for indigenous Australians. This is a massive missed opportunity. At a time of massive budget surplus, we see no big picture for health. To compound that very valid criticism, Western Australia has been totally neglected.
Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY : There are other cutbacks to health in the federal budget that I am sure all members will be vitally interested in. The federal government has taken $1.5 million from the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Areas program. Maybe members opposite do not care particularly since they do not have any outer metropolitan seats. We do because we represent those people. We have seen a cut in the federal government’s funding for the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Regions program. What about cancer patients? What does the federal government have in this budget for cancer patients? It has ripped money from the Better Access to Radiation Oncology program. It has cut cancer care for people. A total of $6 million has been ripped out of that program. It has also made inadequate provision for its own national bowel cancer screening program, which was due to start last month. It has not started anywhere in Australia because it has been inadequately funded and it is a dud model. We will do our best to cooperate with the federal government to provide this important extension to service but, typical of all the other health matters covered in the federal budget, it is cutting funding rather than providing it where it is desperately needed. Let me give members the best of the lot. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time and I direct her to withdraw that comment. Ms S.E. WALKER : I withdraw, Mr Speaker. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.A. McGINTY : The federal budget announced a program of investment of $213 million for infrastructure in capital works for medical research organisations. That is fantastic because every member in this place will know that recently the Premier announced two new medical research establishments in Western Australia, one at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and one to be constructed at the Fiona Stanley hospital site. We have put in $50 million, supported by the universities, to these very important establishments. What did the federal government do? It allocated $50 million to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, $22 million for a national stem cell research centre in Griffith University and $163 million for a variety of development and expansion projects. All these projects are in the eastern states. Not one cent has been allocated for medical research in Western Australia. I conclude on this note. In case members think I am making a partisan point, I will quote what the president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said about the 2006 federal health budget. According to my notes, he said - A grab bag of low cost dot point initiatives. With the budget surplus screaming out for big ticket items, we find ourselves in the health policy two dollar shop. There is nothing for public hospitals. There is very little for indigenous Australians. This is a massive missed opportunity. At a time of massive budget surplus, we see no big picture for health. To compound that very valid criticism, Western Australia has been totally neglected.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY : There are other cutbacks to health in the federal budget that I am sure all members will be vitally interested in. The federal government has taken $1.5 million from the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Areas program. Maybe members opposite do not care particularly since they do not have any outer metropolitan seats. We do because we represent those people. We have seen a cut in the federal government’s funding for the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Regions program. What about cancer patients? What does the federal government have in this budget for cancer patients? It has ripped money from the Better Access to Radiation Oncology program. It has cut cancer care for people. A total of $6 million has been ripped out of that program. It has also made inadequate provision for its own national bowel cancer screening program, which was due to start last month. It has not started anywhere in Australia because it has been inadequately funded and it is a dud model. We will do our best to cooperate with the federal government to provide this important extension to service but, typical of all the other health matters covered in the federal budget, it is cutting funding rather than providing it where it is desperately needed. Let me give members the best of the lot. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time and I direct her to withdraw that comment. Ms S.E. WALKER : I withdraw, Mr Speaker. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.A. McGINTY : The federal budget announced a program of investment of $213 million for infrastructure in capital works for medical research organisations. That is fantastic because every member in this place will know that recently the Premier announced two new medical research establishments in Western Australia, one at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and one to be constructed at the Fiona Stanley hospital site. We have put in $50 million, supported by the universities, to these very important establishments. What did the federal government do? It allocated $50 million to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, $22 million for a national stem cell research centre in Griffith University and $163 million for a variety of development and expansion projects. All these projects are in the eastern states. Not one cent has been allocated for medical research in Western Australia. I conclude on this note. In case members think I am making a partisan point, I will quote what the president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said about the 2006 federal health budget. According to my notes, he said - A grab bag of low cost dot point initiatives. With the budget surplus screaming out for big ticket items, we find ourselves in the health policy two dollar shop. There is nothing for public hospitals. There is very little for indigenous Australians. This is a massive missed opportunity. At a time of massive budget surplus, we see no big picture for health. To compound that very valid criticism, Western Australia has been totally neglected.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : There are other cutbacks to health in the federal budget that I am sure all members will be vitally interested in. The federal government has taken $1.5 million from the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Areas program. Maybe members opposite do not care particularly since they do not have any outer metropolitan seats. We do because we represent those people. We have seen a cut in the federal government’s funding for the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Regions program. What about cancer patients? What does the federal government have in this budget for cancer patients? It has ripped money from the Better Access to Radiation Oncology program. It has cut cancer care for people. A total of $6 million has been ripped out of that program. It has also made inadequate provision for its own national bowel cancer screening program, which was due to start last month. It has not started anywhere in Australia because it has been inadequately funded and it is a dud model. We will do our best to cooperate with the federal government to provide this important extension to service but, typical of all the other health matters covered in the federal budget, it is cutting funding rather than providing it where it is desperately needed. Let me give members the best of the lot. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time and I direct her to withdraw that comment. Ms S.E. WALKER : I withdraw, Mr Speaker. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.A. McGINTY : The federal budget announced a program of investment of $213 million for infrastructure in capital works for medical research organisations. That is fantastic because every member in this place will know that recently the Premier announced two new medical research establishments in Western Australia, one at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and one to be constructed at the Fiona Stanley hospital site. We have put in $50 million, supported by the universities, to these very important establishments. What did the federal government do? It allocated $50 million to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, $22 million for a national stem cell research centre in Griffith University and $163 million for a variety of development and expansion projects. All these projects are in the eastern states. Not one cent has been allocated for medical research in Western Australia. I conclude on this note. In case members think I am making a partisan point, I will quote what the president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said about the 2006 federal health budget. According to my notes, he said - A grab bag of low cost dot point initiatives. With the budget surplus screaming out for big ticket items, we find ourselves in the health policy two dollar shop. There is nothing for public hospitals. There is very little for indigenous Australians. This is a massive missed opportunity. At a time of massive budget surplus, we see no big picture for health. To compound that very valid criticism, Western Australia has been totally neglected.
Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time and I direct her to withdraw that comment. Ms S.E. WALKER : I withdraw, Mr Speaker. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.A. McGINTY : The federal budget announced a program of investment of $213 million for infrastructure in capital works for medical research organisations. That is fantastic because every member in this place will know that recently the Premier announced two new medical research establishments in Western Australia, one at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and one to be constructed at the Fiona Stanley hospital site. We have put in $50 million, supported by the universities, to these very important establishments. What did the federal government do? It allocated $50 million to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, $22 million for a national stem cell research centre in Griffith University and $163 million for a variety of development and expansion projects. All these projects are in the eastern states. Not one cent has been allocated for medical research in Western Australia. I conclude on this note. In case members think I am making a partisan point, I will quote what the president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said about the 2006 federal health budget. According to my notes, he said - A grab bag of low cost dot point initiatives. With the budget surplus screaming out for big ticket items, we find ourselves in the health policy two dollar shop. There is nothing for public hospitals. There is very little for indigenous Australians. This is a massive missed opportunity. At a time of massive budget surplus, we see no big picture for health. To compound that very valid criticism, Western Australia has been totally neglected.
Ms S.E. WALKER : I withdraw, Mr Speaker. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.A. McGINTY : The federal budget announced a program of investment of $213 million for infrastructure in capital works for medical research organisations. That is fantastic because every member in this place will know that recently the Premier announced two new medical research establishments in Western Australia, one at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and one to be constructed at the Fiona Stanley hospital site. We have put in $50 million, supported by the universities, to these very important establishments. What did the federal government do? It allocated $50 million to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, $22 million for a national stem cell research centre in Griffith University and $163 million for a variety of development and expansion projects. All these projects are in the eastern states. Not one cent has been allocated for medical research in Western Australia. I conclude on this note. In case members think I am making a partisan point, I will quote what the president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said about the 2006 federal health budget. According to my notes, he said - A grab bag of low cost dot point initiatives. With the budget surplus screaming out for big ticket items, we find ourselves in the health policy two dollar shop. There is nothing for public hospitals. There is very little for indigenous Australians. This is a massive missed opportunity. At a time of massive budget surplus, we see no big picture for health. To compound that very valid criticism, Western Australia has been totally neglected.
I conclude on this note. In case members think I am making a partisan point, I will quote what the president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said about the 2006 federal health budget. According to my notes, he said - A grab bag of low cost dot point initiatives. With the budget surplus screaming out for big ticket items, we find ourselves in the health policy two dollar shop. There is nothing for public hospitals. There is very little for indigenous Australians. This is a massive missed opportunity. At a time of massive budget surplus, we see no big picture for health. To compound that very valid criticism, Western Australia has been totally neglected.
With the budget surplus screaming out for big ticket items, we find ourselves in the health policy two dollar shop. There is nothing for public hospitals.
There is nothing for public hospitals.
This is a massive missed opportunity. At a time of massive budget surplus, we see no big picture for health. To compound that very valid criticism, Western Australia has been totally neglected.
To compound that very valid criticism, Western Australia has been totally neglected.
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