❓ Ms. Brewer questions the Minister for Health about potential job freezes in WA hospitals due to cost-cutting measures. The Minister avoids directly answering, instead highlighting increased health workforce and criticising the previous government's record.
AnsweredQoN 406Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Health—Cost-cutting taskforce
406. Ms Sandra Brewer to
the Minister for Health:
I refer to the
government's cost-cutting taskforce in health. Can the minister confirm whether
any WA hospitals or health service providers are implementing a job freeze,
including not replacing staff who retire or resign?
406. Ms Sandra Brewer to
the Minister for Health:
I refer to the
government's cost-cutting taskforce in health. Can the minister confirm whether
any WA hospitals or health service providers are implementing a job freeze,
including not replacing staff who retire or resign?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. We yesterday talked
about the financial sustainability work that has been ongoing in health for
some time, so I am pleased to once again reflect on the work that this
government is doing to ensure that our record investments in health are going
to support the excellent frontline services provided. I want to be clear: there
is no reduction in frontline services. Our government is incredibly proud of
the fact that we have increased the health workforce since 2021.
Several members
interjected.
Ms Meredith Hammat: There has been a 33% increase
since 2021.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt!
Ms Meredith Hammat: There have been 5,000 new nurses
since 2021 and 1,900 new doctors since 2021.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members of the opposition, you have asked
the question. Let the minister respond.
Ms Meredith Hammat: It is important to compare our
record with those opposite when they were last in government.
Ms Sandra Brewer interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Cottesloe!
Ms Meredith Hammat: The important point is the
character. Let us be clear: when you were in government, you cut staff. That is
what you did. Between 2015 and 2016, the former government decreased the number
of nurses. There were 645 fewer nurses, 60 fewer midwives and a decrease of 131
doctors. That is what the former government did. That is in stark contrast to
the work of this government. We have increased staff and beds—
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition!
Ms Meredith Hammat: We are continuing to invest in
important programs and services to deliver access to health care for Western
Australians when and where they need it. This government takes its financial
responsibility seriously. We are very proud of the work we have done to repair
the mess the former government left us in the budget when we won government—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members of the opposition, you may still
get a supplementary on this question. If you keep interjecting, the chances are
you will not.
Ms Meredith Hammat: —and the mess that the
financials were in when this government was elected in 2017. We are very proud
of the work we have done to repair the budget so that we have the capacity to
invest in more staff, more beds, new services and better models of care to
deliver health. We are improving how Western Australians can access care in the
community when they need it and we will continue to look it at all the ways we
can deliver better access to health care for Western Australians. It is an
important piece of work that this government is doing. It is not just about
increasing beds, although we are very proud of the fact that we have put on 900
more beds, and it is not just about improving staff, although we are very proud
of the work we have done to increase staff, as I said, by 1,000 more nurses and
1,900 more doctors; it is about delivering care in the community where people
live. It is also about better health infrastructure. We are very proud of the
work we are doing there, too. We have spent $3.2 billion on new health
infrastructure. That stands in stark contrast to the former government's record
when it cut staff. This government is committed to ensuring that we have the
staff we need where we need them to continue to deliver our ambitious health agenda.
about the financial sustainability work that has been ongoing in health for
some time, so I am pleased to once again reflect on the work that this
government is doing to ensure that our record investments in health are going
to support the excellent frontline services provided. I want to be clear: there
is no reduction in frontline services. Our government is incredibly proud of
the fact that we have increased the health workforce since 2021.
Several members
interjected.
Ms Meredith Hammat: There has been a 33% increase
since 2021.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt!
Ms Meredith Hammat: There have been 5,000 new nurses
since 2021 and 1,900 new doctors since 2021.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members of the opposition, you have asked
the question. Let the minister respond.
Ms Meredith Hammat: It is important to compare our
record with those opposite when they were last in government.
Ms Sandra Brewer interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Cottesloe!
Ms Meredith Hammat: The important point is the
character. Let us be clear: when you were in government, you cut staff. That is
what you did. Between 2015 and 2016, the former government decreased the number
of nurses. There were 645 fewer nurses, 60 fewer midwives and a decrease of 131
doctors. That is what the former government did. That is in stark contrast to
the work of this government. We have increased staff and beds—
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition!
Ms Meredith Hammat: We are continuing to invest in
important programs and services to deliver access to health care for Western
Australians when and where they need it. This government takes its financial
responsibility seriously. We are very proud of the work we have done to repair
the mess the former government left us in the budget when we won government—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members of the opposition, you may still
get a supplementary on this question. If you keep interjecting, the chances are
you will not.
Ms Meredith Hammat: —and the mess that the
financials were in when this government was elected in 2017. We are very proud
of the work we have done to repair the budget so that we have the capacity to
invest in more staff, more beds, new services and better models of care to
deliver health. We are improving how Western Australians can access care in the
community when they need it and we will continue to look it at all the ways we
can deliver better access to health care for Western Australians. It is an
important piece of work that this government is doing. It is not just about
increasing beds, although we are very proud of the fact that we have put on 900
more beds, and it is not just about improving staff, although we are very proud
of the work we have done to increase staff, as I said, by 1,000 more nurses and
1,900 more doctors; it is about delivering care in the community where people
live. It is also about better health infrastructure. We are very proud of the
work we are doing there, too. We have spent $3.2 billion on new health
infrastructure. That stands in stark contrast to the former government's record
when it cut staff. This government is committed to ensuring that we have the
staff we need where we need them to continue to deliver our ambitious health agenda.
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