❓ Mr Jacob asks about Joondalup Health Campus's performance against the four-hour rule target. Dr Hames responds positively, highlighting improvements and comparing it to national standards, while also referencing past government decisions.
AnsweredQoN 793Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
JOONDALUP HEALTH CAMPUS EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT — FOUR-HOUR RULE
I acknowledge the Wanneroo seniors in the gallery today from the member for Wanneroo’s electorate, who may also be interested in this question. I understand that the latest four-hour rule figures for stage 2 hospitals are now out. How is my local hospital, Joondalup Health Campus, performing in trying to meet its targets, and how does this compare with other hospitals in Western Australia and the rest of Australia? Dr K.D. HAMES
I acknowledge the Wanneroo seniors in the gallery today from the member for Wanneroo’s electorate, who may also be interested in this question. I understand that the latest four-hour rule figures for stage 2 hospitals are now out. How is my local hospital, Joondalup Health Campus, performing in trying to meet its targets, and how does this compare with other hospitals in Western Australia and the rest of Australia? Dr K.D. HAMES
AnswerView source ↗
The member is extremely proud of the hospital in his electorate because it is doing fantastically well. We are very pleased with the progress we have made. Indeed, the former government must also be pleased with Joondalup Health Campus because the former government renewed and extended its contract. Obviously, the other side also thinks that the operation of such hospitals works extremely well. We brought in the four-hour rule for the peripheral ring of hospitals with a target to reach of 85 per cent. I must say that Joondalup Health Campus was struggling. It was having a lot of trouble with meeting that target for a few reasons. Firstly, the hospital underwent a major expansion. We virtually doubled the size of the emergency department and presentations each day went up by 18 per cent. The problems people presented with were not just simple little things that could have otherwise been dealt with by a general practitioner. People presented with middle level category problems, which put a huge amount of pressure on the hospital. Next, the hospital stopped diversions. Previously, ambulances would bypass Joondalup Health Campus and go to the tertiary hospitals. Therefore, it was extremely difficult for Joondalup to reach the 85 per cent target, but it did. Half of Perth must know that Joondalup reached that target because I received texts from Kempton Cowan on an almost weekly basis as Joondalup Health Campus got closer and closer to the target. Whenever I went to a function and asked anybody who has anything to do with health what they knew about it, I found out that they all received a copy of the same text. He must have sent those texts far and wide. He had exclamation marks everywhere as the hospital got closer to the target. It was difficult to achieve and Kempton Cowan was obviously excited when the target was reached. It is fantastic that Joondalup Health Campus has achieved that result. This is a good opportunity to talk about the four-hour rule and what this state government intends to do about it. As we know, the commonwealth has instigated a copy of our four-hour rule across the whole of Australia. An independent committee made up of members from all over Australia, including one from Western Australia, has looked at the differences between Western Australia and the United Kingdom, from which we copied the percentage that we required. The committee looked at the differences in the way we employ doctors within our system and what a safe outcome is for patients in the hospital. The commonwealth has set a target that is lower than the target that we originally set, and whilst we are now well above the target in any other state, we will adopt that commonwealth target, which is 90 per cent for 2015. That is the target that we intend our hospitals will reach. Previously, the target was 98 per cent. It is a reduction, but one that we fully support. Joondalup Health Campus, as I have said, is doing an excellent job. It is interesting that the member for Swan Hills has a great opportunity coming up in the future. He has been invited to talk to the people at United Voice, and I hope they will be united in their voice in support of the fantastic system we have in place at Joondalup hospital and that it will be replicated for the people in Midland and surrounding regions. That will be a service of which they can be proud. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I know the member for Girrawheen is proud of the service provided to her electorate by Joondalup hospital, because the former Labor Minister for Health not only signed the contract but expanded the contract; and, of course, the Leader of the Opposition expanded the amount of funds that were going to be available to that private provider. Obviously, members opposite like that system. That is why, of course, the former Labor government gave a contract to Serco and then followed it up with a subsequent contract. The former government obviously liked that system, and it is surprising that members opposite have said they would can all of those contracts when they get into government. I will be very interested to see that on the bottom line of Labor’s election campaign when we have to look at the Labor Party’s funding contributions that will be required. The opposition will have no money for anything else once it pays out all those contracts that are in existence. I am sure members opposite are aware what a massive cost that will be. Mr E.S. Ripper : Who says we are going to pay them out? Dr K.D. HAMES : The Leader of the Opposition said that about all existing contracts and contracts as they develop. Joondalup is not a contract that is fully in existence now; it is a contract that will grow with time. All of that growth will have to be funded if the Labor Party is going to buy those contracts out. Members opposite will be faced with a massive cost. Sadly, they will not be able to spend money on anything else! Mr E.S. Ripper : You have tied us with a 20-year contract—outrageous! Dr K.D. HAMES : It would outrageous if the Leader of the Opposition really intended to do that. However, he had the opportunity to do that with the Serco contract and the Joondalup hospital contract. We know they are empty, hollow words; we know he will not do that. We will know that when we go into the election campaign and see Labor’s costings, because there will be no costings for buying out the Joondalup contract—mark my words!
I understand that the latest four-hour rule figures for stage 2 hospitals are now out. How is my local hospital, Joondalup Health Campus, performing in trying to meet its targets, and how does this compare with other hospitals in Western Australia and the rest of Australia? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: The member is extremely proud of the hospital in his electorate because it is doing fantastically well. We are very pleased with the progress we have made. Indeed, the former government must also be pleased with Joondalup Health Campus because the former government renewed and extended its contract. Obviously, the other side also thinks that the operation of such hospitals works extremely well. We brought in the four-hour rule for the peripheral ring of hospitals with a target to reach of 85 per cent. I must say that Joondalup Health Campus was struggling. It was having a lot of trouble with meeting that target for a few reasons. Firstly, the hospital underwent a major expansion. We virtually doubled the size of the emergency department and presentations each day went up by 18 per cent. The problems people presented with were not just simple little things that could have otherwise been dealt with by a general practitioner. People presented with middle level category problems, which put a huge amount of pressure on the hospital. Next, the hospital stopped diversions. Previously, ambulances would bypass Joondalup Health Campus and go to the tertiary hospitals. Therefore, it was extremely difficult for Joondalup to reach the 85 per cent target, but it did. Half of Perth must know that Joondalup reached that target because I received texts from Kempton Cowan on an almost weekly basis as Joondalup Health Campus got closer and closer to the target. Whenever I went to a function and asked anybody who has anything to do with health what they knew about it, I found out that they all received a copy of the same text. He must have sent those texts far and wide. He had exclamation marks everywhere as the hospital got closer to the target. It was difficult to achieve and Kempton Cowan was obviously excited when the target was reached. It is fantastic that Joondalup Health Campus has achieved that result. This is a good opportunity to talk about the four-hour rule and what this state government intends to do about it. As we know, the commonwealth has instigated a copy of our four-hour rule across the whole of Australia. An independent committee made up of members from all over Australia, including one from Western Australia, has looked at the differences between Western Australia and the United Kingdom, from which we copied the percentage that we required. The committee looked at the differences in the way we employ doctors within our system and what a safe outcome is for patients in the hospital. The commonwealth has set a target that is lower than the target that we originally set, and whilst we are now well above the target in any other state, we will adopt that commonwealth target, which is 90 per cent for 2015. That is the target that we intend our hospitals will reach. Previously, the target was 98 per cent. It is a reduction, but one that we fully support. Joondalup Health Campus, as I have said, is doing an excellent job. It is interesting that the member for Swan Hills has a great opportunity coming up in the future. He has been invited to talk to the people at United Voice, and I hope they will be united in their voice in support of the fantastic system we have in place at Joondalup hospital and that it will be replicated for the people in Midland and surrounding regions. That will be a service of which they can be proud. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I know the member for Girrawheen is proud of the service provided to her electorate by Joondalup hospital, because the former Labor Minister for Health not only signed the contract but expanded the contract; and, of course, the Leader of the Opposition expanded the amount of funds that were going to be available to that private provider. Obviously, members opposite like that system. That is why, of course, the former Labor government gave a contract to Serco and then followed it up with a subsequent contract. The former government obviously liked that system, and it is surprising that members opposite have said they would can all of those contracts when they get into government. I will be very interested to see that on the bottom line of Labor’s election campaign when we have to look at the Labor Party’s funding contributions that will be required. The opposition will have no money for anything else once it pays out all those contracts that are in existence. I am sure members opposite are aware what a massive cost that will be. Mr E.S. Ripper : Who says we are going to pay them out? Dr K.D. HAMES : The Leader of the Opposition said that about all existing contracts and contracts as they develop. Joondalup is not a contract that is fully in existence now; it is a contract that will grow with time. All of that growth will have to be funded if the Labor Party is going to buy those contracts out. Members opposite will be faced with a massive cost. Sadly, they will not be able to spend money on anything else! Mr E.S. Ripper : You have tied us with a 20-year contract—outrageous! Dr K.D. HAMES : It would outrageous if the Leader of the Opposition really intended to do that. However, he had the opportunity to do that with the Serco contract and the Joondalup hospital contract. We know they are empty, hollow words; we know he will not do that. We will know that when we go into the election campaign and see Labor’s costings, because there will be no costings for buying out the Joondalup contract—mark my words!
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: The member is extremely proud of the hospital in his electorate because it is doing fantastically well. We are very pleased with the progress we have made. Indeed, the former government must also be pleased with Joondalup Health Campus because the former government renewed and extended its contract. Obviously, the other side also thinks that the operation of such hospitals works extremely well. We brought in the four-hour rule for the peripheral ring of hospitals with a target to reach of 85 per cent. I must say that Joondalup Health Campus was struggling. It was having a lot of trouble with meeting that target for a few reasons. Firstly, the hospital underwent a major expansion. We virtually doubled the size of the emergency department and presentations each day went up by 18 per cent. The problems people presented with were not just simple little things that could have otherwise been dealt with by a general practitioner. People presented with middle level category problems, which put a huge amount of pressure on the hospital. Next, the hospital stopped diversions. Previously, ambulances would bypass Joondalup Health Campus and go to the tertiary hospitals. Therefore, it was extremely difficult for Joondalup to reach the 85 per cent target, but it did. Half of Perth must know that Joondalup reached that target because I received texts from Kempton Cowan on an almost weekly basis as Joondalup Health Campus got closer and closer to the target. Whenever I went to a function and asked anybody who has anything to do with health what they knew about it, I found out that they all received a copy of the same text. He must have sent those texts far and wide. He had exclamation marks everywhere as the hospital got closer to the target. It was difficult to achieve and Kempton Cowan was obviously excited when the target was reached. It is fantastic that Joondalup Health Campus has achieved that result. This is a good opportunity to talk about the four-hour rule and what this state government intends to do about it. As we know, the commonwealth has instigated a copy of our four-hour rule across the whole of Australia. An independent committee made up of members from all over Australia, including one from Western Australia, has looked at the differences between Western Australia and the United Kingdom, from which we copied the percentage that we required. The committee looked at the differences in the way we employ doctors within our system and what a safe outcome is for patients in the hospital. The commonwealth has set a target that is lower than the target that we originally set, and whilst we are now well above the target in any other state, we will adopt that commonwealth target, which is 90 per cent for 2015. That is the target that we intend our hospitals will reach. Previously, the target was 98 per cent. It is a reduction, but one that we fully support. Joondalup Health Campus, as I have said, is doing an excellent job. It is interesting that the member for Swan Hills has a great opportunity coming up in the future. He has been invited to talk to the people at United Voice, and I hope they will be united in their voice in support of the fantastic system we have in place at Joondalup hospital and that it will be replicated for the people in Midland and surrounding regions. That will be a service of which they can be proud. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I know the member for Girrawheen is proud of the service provided to her electorate by Joondalup hospital, because the former Labor Minister for Health not only signed the contract but expanded the contract; and, of course, the Leader of the Opposition expanded the amount of funds that were going to be available to that private provider. Obviously, members opposite like that system. That is why, of course, the former Labor government gave a contract to Serco and then followed it up with a subsequent contract. The former government obviously liked that system, and it is surprising that members opposite have said they would can all of those contracts when they get into government. I will be very interested to see that on the bottom line of Labor’s election campaign when we have to look at the Labor Party’s funding contributions that will be required. The opposition will have no money for anything else once it pays out all those contracts that are in existence. I am sure members opposite are aware what a massive cost that will be. Mr E.S. Ripper : Who says we are going to pay them out? Dr K.D. HAMES : The Leader of the Opposition said that about all existing contracts and contracts as they develop. Joondalup is not a contract that is fully in existence now; it is a contract that will grow with time. All of that growth will have to be funded if the Labor Party is going to buy those contracts out. Members opposite will be faced with a massive cost. Sadly, they will not be able to spend money on anything else! Mr E.S. Ripper : You have tied us with a 20-year contract—outrageous! Dr K.D. HAMES : It would outrageous if the Leader of the Opposition really intended to do that. However, he had the opportunity to do that with the Serco contract and the Joondalup hospital contract. We know they are empty, hollow words; we know he will not do that. We will know that when we go into the election campaign and see Labor’s costings, because there will be no costings for buying out the Joondalup contract—mark my words!
The member is extremely proud of the hospital in his electorate because it is doing fantastically well. We are very pleased with the progress we have made. Indeed, the former government must also be pleased with Joondalup Health Campus because the former government renewed and extended its contract. Obviously, the other side also thinks that the operation of such hospitals works extremely well. We brought in the four-hour rule for the peripheral ring of hospitals with a target to reach of 85 per cent. I must say that Joondalup Health Campus was struggling. It was having a lot of trouble with meeting that target for a few reasons. Firstly, the hospital underwent a major expansion. We virtually doubled the size of the emergency department and presentations each day went up by 18 per cent. The problems people presented with were not just simple little things that could have otherwise been dealt with by a general practitioner. People presented with middle level category problems, which put a huge amount of pressure on the hospital. Next, the hospital stopped diversions. Previously, ambulances would bypass Joondalup Health Campus and go to the tertiary hospitals. Therefore, it was extremely difficult for Joondalup to reach the 85 per cent target, but it did. Half of Perth must know that Joondalup reached that target because I received texts from Kempton Cowan on an almost weekly basis as Joondalup Health Campus got closer and closer to the target. Whenever I went to a function and asked anybody who has anything to do with health what they knew about it, I found out that they all received a copy of the same text. He must have sent those texts far and wide. He had exclamation marks everywhere as the hospital got closer to the target. It was difficult to achieve and Kempton Cowan was obviously excited when the target was reached. It is fantastic that Joondalup Health Campus has achieved that result. This is a good opportunity to talk about the four-hour rule and what this state government intends to do about it. As we know, the commonwealth has instigated a copy of our four-hour rule across the whole of Australia. An independent committee made up of members from all over Australia, including one from Western Australia, has looked at the differences between Western Australia and the United Kingdom, from which we copied the percentage that we required. The committee looked at the differences in the way we employ doctors within our system and what a safe outcome is for patients in the hospital. The commonwealth has set a target that is lower than the target that we originally set, and whilst we are now well above the target in any other state, we will adopt that commonwealth target, which is 90 per cent for 2015. That is the target that we intend our hospitals will reach. Previously, the target was 98 per cent. It is a reduction, but one that we fully support. Joondalup Health Campus, as I have said, is doing an excellent job. It is interesting that the member for Swan Hills has a great opportunity coming up in the future. He has been invited to talk to the people at United Voice, and I hope they will be united in their voice in support of the fantastic system we have in place at Joondalup hospital and that it will be replicated for the people in Midland and surrounding regions. That will be a service of which they can be proud. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I know the member for Girrawheen is proud of the service provided to her electorate by Joondalup hospital, because the former Labor Minister for Health not only signed the contract but expanded the contract; and, of course, the Leader of the Opposition expanded the amount of funds that were going to be available to that private provider. Obviously, members opposite like that system. That is why, of course, the former Labor government gave a contract to Serco and then followed it up with a subsequent contract. The former government obviously liked that system, and it is surprising that members opposite have said they would can all of those contracts when they get into government. I will be very interested to see that on the bottom line of Labor’s election campaign when we have to look at the Labor Party’s funding contributions that will be required. The opposition will have no money for anything else once it pays out all those contracts that are in existence. I am sure members opposite are aware what a massive cost that will be. Mr E.S. Ripper : Who says we are going to pay them out? Dr K.D. HAMES : The Leader of the Opposition said that about all existing contracts and contracts as they develop. Joondalup is not a contract that is fully in existence now; it is a contract that will grow with time. All of that growth will have to be funded if the Labor Party is going to buy those contracts out. Members opposite will be faced with a massive cost. Sadly, they will not be able to spend money on anything else! Mr E.S. Ripper : You have tied us with a 20-year contract—outrageous! Dr K.D. HAMES : It would outrageous if the Leader of the Opposition really intended to do that. However, he had the opportunity to do that with the Serco contract and the Joondalup hospital contract. We know they are empty, hollow words; we know he will not do that. We will know that when we go into the election campaign and see Labor’s costings, because there will be no costings for buying out the Joondalup contract—mark my words!
We brought in the four-hour rule for the peripheral ring of hospitals with a target to reach of 85 per cent. I must say that Joondalup Health Campus was struggling. It was having a lot of trouble with meeting that target for a few reasons. Firstly, the hospital underwent a major expansion. We virtually doubled the size of the emergency department and presentations each day went up by 18 per cent. The problems people presented with were not just simple little things that could have otherwise been dealt with by a general practitioner. People presented with middle level category problems, which put a huge amount of pressure on the hospital. Next, the hospital stopped diversions. Previously, ambulances would bypass Joondalup Health Campus and go to the tertiary hospitals. Therefore, it was extremely difficult for Joondalup to reach the 85 per cent target, but it did. Half of Perth must know that Joondalup reached that target because I received texts from Kempton Cowan on an almost weekly basis as Joondalup Health Campus got closer and closer to the target. Whenever I went to a function and asked anybody who has anything to do with health what they knew about it, I found out that they all received a copy of the same text. He must have sent those texts far and wide. He had exclamation marks everywhere as the hospital got closer to the target. It was difficult to achieve and Kempton Cowan was obviously excited when the target was reached. It is fantastic that Joondalup Health Campus has achieved that result. This is a good opportunity to talk about the four-hour rule and what this state government intends to do about it. As we know, the commonwealth has instigated a copy of our four-hour rule across the whole of Australia. An independent committee made up of members from all over Australia, including one from Western Australia, has looked at the differences between Western Australia and the United Kingdom, from which we copied the percentage that we required. The committee looked at the differences in the way we employ doctors within our system and what a safe outcome is for patients in the hospital. The commonwealth has set a target that is lower than the target that we originally set, and whilst we are now well above the target in any other state, we will adopt that commonwealth target, which is 90 per cent for 2015. That is the target that we intend our hospitals will reach. Previously, the target was 98 per cent. It is a reduction, but one that we fully support. Joondalup Health Campus, as I have said, is doing an excellent job. It is interesting that the member for Swan Hills has a great opportunity coming up in the future. He has been invited to talk to the people at United Voice, and I hope they will be united in their voice in support of the fantastic system we have in place at Joondalup hospital and that it will be replicated for the people in Midland and surrounding regions. That will be a service of which they can be proud. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I know the member for Girrawheen is proud of the service provided to her electorate by Joondalup hospital, because the former Labor Minister for Health not only signed the contract but expanded the contract; and, of course, the Leader of the Opposition expanded the amount of funds that were going to be available to that private provider. Obviously, members opposite like that system. That is why, of course, the former Labor government gave a contract to Serco and then followed it up with a subsequent contract. The former government obviously liked that system, and it is surprising that members opposite have said they would can all of those contracts when they get into government. I will be very interested to see that on the bottom line of Labor’s election campaign when we have to look at the Labor Party’s funding contributions that will be required. The opposition will have no money for anything else once it pays out all those contracts that are in existence. I am sure members opposite are aware what a massive cost that will be. Mr E.S. Ripper : Who says we are going to pay them out? Dr K.D. HAMES : The Leader of the Opposition said that about all existing contracts and contracts as they develop. Joondalup is not a contract that is fully in existence now; it is a contract that will grow with time. All of that growth will have to be funded if the Labor Party is going to buy those contracts out. Members opposite will be faced with a massive cost. Sadly, they will not be able to spend money on anything else! Mr E.S. Ripper : You have tied us with a 20-year contract—outrageous! Dr K.D. HAMES : It would outrageous if the Leader of the Opposition really intended to do that. However, he had the opportunity to do that with the Serco contract and the Joondalup hospital contract. We know they are empty, hollow words; we know he will not do that. We will know that when we go into the election campaign and see Labor’s costings, because there will be no costings for buying out the Joondalup contract—mark my words!
This is a good opportunity to talk about the four-hour rule and what this state government intends to do about it. As we know, the commonwealth has instigated a copy of our four-hour rule across the whole of Australia. An independent committee made up of members from all over Australia, including one from Western Australia, has looked at the differences between Western Australia and the United Kingdom, from which we copied the percentage that we required. The committee looked at the differences in the way we employ doctors within our system and what a safe outcome is for patients in the hospital. The commonwealth has set a target that is lower than the target that we originally set, and whilst we are now well above the target in any other state, we will adopt that commonwealth target, which is 90 per cent for 2015. That is the target that we intend our hospitals will reach. Previously, the target was 98 per cent. It is a reduction, but one that we fully support. Joondalup Health Campus, as I have said, is doing an excellent job. It is interesting that the member for Swan Hills has a great opportunity coming up in the future. He has been invited to talk to the people at United Voice, and I hope they will be united in their voice in support of the fantastic system we have in place at Joondalup hospital and that it will be replicated for the people in Midland and surrounding regions. That will be a service of which they can be proud. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I know the member for Girrawheen is proud of the service provided to her electorate by Joondalup hospital, because the former Labor Minister for Health not only signed the contract but expanded the contract; and, of course, the Leader of the Opposition expanded the amount of funds that were going to be available to that private provider. Obviously, members opposite like that system. That is why, of course, the former Labor government gave a contract to Serco and then followed it up with a subsequent contract. The former government obviously liked that system, and it is surprising that members opposite have said they would can all of those contracts when they get into government. I will be very interested to see that on the bottom line of Labor’s election campaign when we have to look at the Labor Party’s funding contributions that will be required. The opposition will have no money for anything else once it pays out all those contracts that are in existence. I am sure members opposite are aware what a massive cost that will be. Mr E.S. Ripper : Who says we are going to pay them out? Dr K.D. HAMES : The Leader of the Opposition said that about all existing contracts and contracts as they develop. Joondalup is not a contract that is fully in existence now; it is a contract that will grow with time. All of that growth will have to be funded if the Labor Party is going to buy those contracts out. Members opposite will be faced with a massive cost. Sadly, they will not be able to spend money on anything else! Mr E.S. Ripper : You have tied us with a 20-year contract—outrageous! Dr K.D. HAMES : It would outrageous if the Leader of the Opposition really intended to do that. However, he had the opportunity to do that with the Serco contract and the Joondalup hospital contract. We know they are empty, hollow words; we know he will not do that. We will know that when we go into the election campaign and see Labor’s costings, because there will be no costings for buying out the Joondalup contract—mark my words!
Joondalup Health Campus, as I have said, is doing an excellent job. It is interesting that the member for Swan Hills has a great opportunity coming up in the future. He has been invited to talk to the people at United Voice, and I hope they will be united in their voice in support of the fantastic system we have in place at Joondalup hospital and that it will be replicated for the people in Midland and surrounding regions. That will be a service of which they can be proud. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I know the member for Girrawheen is proud of the service provided to her electorate by Joondalup hospital, because the former Labor Minister for Health not only signed the contract but expanded the contract; and, of course, the Leader of the Opposition expanded the amount of funds that were going to be available to that private provider. Obviously, members opposite like that system. That is why, of course, the former Labor government gave a contract to Serco and then followed it up with a subsequent contract. The former government obviously liked that system, and it is surprising that members opposite have said they would can all of those contracts when they get into government. I will be very interested to see that on the bottom line of Labor’s election campaign when we have to look at the Labor Party’s funding contributions that will be required. The opposition will have no money for anything else once it pays out all those contracts that are in existence. I am sure members opposite are aware what a massive cost that will be. Mr E.S. Ripper : Who says we are going to pay them out? Dr K.D. HAMES : The Leader of the Opposition said that about all existing contracts and contracts as they develop. Joondalup is not a contract that is fully in existence now; it is a contract that will grow with time. All of that growth will have to be funded if the Labor Party is going to buy those contracts out. Members opposite will be faced with a massive cost. Sadly, they will not be able to spend money on anything else! Mr E.S. Ripper : You have tied us with a 20-year contract—outrageous! Dr K.D. HAMES : It would outrageous if the Leader of the Opposition really intended to do that. However, he had the opportunity to do that with the Serco contract and the Joondalup hospital contract. We know they are empty, hollow words; we know he will not do that. We will know that when we go into the election campaign and see Labor’s costings, because there will be no costings for buying out the Joondalup contract—mark my words!
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I know the member for Girrawheen is proud of the service provided to her electorate by Joondalup hospital, because the former Labor Minister for Health not only signed the contract but expanded the contract; and, of course, the Leader of the Opposition expanded the amount of funds that were going to be available to that private provider. Obviously, members opposite like that system. That is why, of course, the former Labor government gave a contract to Serco and then followed it up with a subsequent contract. The former government obviously liked that system, and it is surprising that members opposite have said they would can all of those contracts when they get into government. I will be very interested to see that on the bottom line of Labor’s election campaign when we have to look at the Labor Party’s funding contributions that will be required. The opposition will have no money for anything else once it pays out all those contracts that are in existence. I am sure members opposite are aware what a massive cost that will be. Mr E.S. Ripper : Who says we are going to pay them out? Dr K.D. HAMES : The Leader of the Opposition said that about all existing contracts and contracts as they develop. Joondalup is not a contract that is fully in existence now; it is a contract that will grow with time. All of that growth will have to be funded if the Labor Party is going to buy those contracts out. Members opposite will be faced with a massive cost. Sadly, they will not be able to spend money on anything else! Mr E.S. Ripper : You have tied us with a 20-year contract—outrageous! Dr K.D. HAMES : It would outrageous if the Leader of the Opposition really intended to do that. However, he had the opportunity to do that with the Serco contract and the Joondalup hospital contract. We know they are empty, hollow words; we know he will not do that. We will know that when we go into the election campaign and see Labor’s costings, because there will be no costings for buying out the Joondalup contract—mark my words!
Dr K.D. HAMES : I know the member for Girrawheen is proud of the service provided to her electorate by Joondalup hospital, because the former Labor Minister for Health not only signed the contract but expanded the contract; and, of course, the Leader of the Opposition expanded the amount of funds that were going to be available to that private provider. Obviously, members opposite like that system. That is why, of course, the former Labor government gave a contract to Serco and then followed it up with a subsequent contract. The former government obviously liked that system, and it is surprising that members opposite have said they would can all of those contracts when they get into government. I will be very interested to see that on the bottom line of Labor’s election campaign when we have to look at the Labor Party’s funding contributions that will be required. The opposition will have no money for anything else once it pays out all those contracts that are in existence. I am sure members opposite are aware what a massive cost that will be. Mr E.S. Ripper : Who says we are going to pay them out? Dr K.D. HAMES : The Leader of the Opposition said that about all existing contracts and contracts as they develop. Joondalup is not a contract that is fully in existence now; it is a contract that will grow with time. All of that growth will have to be funded if the Labor Party is going to buy those contracts out. Members opposite will be faced with a massive cost. Sadly, they will not be able to spend money on anything else! Mr E.S. Ripper : You have tied us with a 20-year contract—outrageous! Dr K.D. HAMES : It would outrageous if the Leader of the Opposition really intended to do that. However, he had the opportunity to do that with the Serco contract and the Joondalup hospital contract. We know they are empty, hollow words; we know he will not do that. We will know that when we go into the election campaign and see Labor’s costings, because there will be no costings for buying out the Joondalup contract—mark my words!
Mr E.S. Ripper : Who says we are going to pay them out? Dr K.D. HAMES : The Leader of the Opposition said that about all existing contracts and contracts as they develop. Joondalup is not a contract that is fully in existence now; it is a contract that will grow with time. All of that growth will have to be funded if the Labor Party is going to buy those contracts out. Members opposite will be faced with a massive cost. Sadly, they will not be able to spend money on anything else! Mr E.S. Ripper : You have tied us with a 20-year contract—outrageous! Dr K.D. HAMES : It would outrageous if the Leader of the Opposition really intended to do that. However, he had the opportunity to do that with the Serco contract and the Joondalup hospital contract. We know they are empty, hollow words; we know he will not do that. We will know that when we go into the election campaign and see Labor’s costings, because there will be no costings for buying out the Joondalup contract—mark my words!
Dr K.D. HAMES : The Leader of the Opposition said that about all existing contracts and contracts as they develop. Joondalup is not a contract that is fully in existence now; it is a contract that will grow with time. All of that growth will have to be funded if the Labor Party is going to buy those contracts out. Members opposite will be faced with a massive cost. Sadly, they will not be able to spend money on anything else! Mr E.S. Ripper : You have tied us with a 20-year contract—outrageous! Dr K.D. HAMES : It would outrageous if the Leader of the Opposition really intended to do that. However, he had the opportunity to do that with the Serco contract and the Joondalup hospital contract. We know they are empty, hollow words; we know he will not do that. We will know that when we go into the election campaign and see Labor’s costings, because there will be no costings for buying out the Joondalup contract—mark my words!
Mr E.S. Ripper : You have tied us with a 20-year contract—outrageous! Dr K.D. HAMES : It would outrageous if the Leader of the Opposition really intended to do that. However, he had the opportunity to do that with the Serco contract and the Joondalup hospital contract. We know they are empty, hollow words; we know he will not do that. We will know that when we go into the election campaign and see Labor’s costings, because there will be no costings for buying out the Joondalup contract—mark my words!
Dr K.D. HAMES : It would outrageous if the Leader of the Opposition really intended to do that. However, he had the opportunity to do that with the Serco contract and the Joondalup hospital contract. We know they are empty, hollow words; we know he will not do that. We will know that when we go into the election campaign and see Labor’s costings, because there will be no costings for buying out the Joondalup contract—mark my words!
I understand that the latest four-hour rule figures for stage 2 hospitals are now out. How is my local hospital, Joondalup Health Campus, performing in trying to meet its targets, and how does this compare with other hospitals in Western Australia and the rest of Australia? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: The member is extremely proud of the hospital in his electorate because it is doing fantastically well. We are very pleased with the progress we have made. Indeed, the former government must also be pleased with Joondalup Health Campus because the former government renewed and extended its contract. Obviously, the other side also thinks that the operation of such hospitals works extremely well. We brought in the four-hour rule for the peripheral ring of hospitals with a target to reach of 85 per cent. I must say that Joondalup Health Campus was struggling. It was having a lot of trouble with meeting that target for a few reasons. Firstly, the hospital underwent a major expansion. We virtually doubled the size of the emergency department and presentations each day went up by 18 per cent. The problems people presented with were not just simple little things that could have otherwise been dealt with by a general practitioner. People presented with middle level category problems, which put a huge amount of pressure on the hospital. Next, the hospital stopped diversions. Previously, ambulances would bypass Joondalup Health Campus and go to the tertiary hospitals. Therefore, it was extremely difficult for Joondalup to reach the 85 per cent target, but it did. Half of Perth must know that Joondalup reached that target because I received texts from Kempton Cowan on an almost weekly basis as Joondalup Health Campus got closer and closer to the target. Whenever I went to a function and asked anybody who has anything to do with health what they knew about it, I found out that they all received a copy of the same text. He must have sent those texts far and wide. He had exclamation marks everywhere as the hospital got closer to the target. It was difficult to achieve and Kempton Cowan was obviously excited when the target was reached. It is fantastic that Joondalup Health Campus has achieved that result. This is a good opportunity to talk about the four-hour rule and what this state government intends to do about it. As we know, the commonwealth has instigated a copy of our four-hour rule across the whole of Australia. An independent committee made up of members from all over Australia, including one from Western Australia, has looked at the differences between Western Australia and the United Kingdom, from which we copied the percentage that we required. The committee looked at the differences in the way we employ doctors within our system and what a safe outcome is for patients in the hospital. The commonwealth has set a target that is lower than the target that we originally set, and whilst we are now well above the target in any other state, we will adopt that commonwealth target, which is 90 per cent for 2015. That is the target that we intend our hospitals will reach. Previously, the target was 98 per cent. It is a reduction, but one that we fully support. Joondalup Health Campus, as I have said, is doing an excellent job. It is interesting that the member for Swan Hills has a great opportunity coming up in the future. He has been invited to talk to the people at United Voice, and I hope they will be united in their voice in support of the fantastic system we have in place at Joondalup hospital and that it will be replicated for the people in Midland and surrounding regions. That will be a service of which they can be proud. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I know the member for Girrawheen is proud of the service provided to her electorate by Joondalup hospital, because the former Labor Minister for Health not only signed the contract but expanded the contract; and, of course, the Leader of the Opposition expanded the amount of funds that were going to be available to that private provider. Obviously, members opposite like that system. That is why, of course, the former Labor government gave a contract to Serco and then followed it up with a subsequent contract. The former government obviously liked that system, and it is surprising that members opposite have said they would can all of those contracts when they get into government. I will be very interested to see that on the bottom line of Labor’s election campaign when we have to look at the Labor Party’s funding contributions that will be required. The opposition will have no money for anything else once it pays out all those contracts that are in existence. I am sure members opposite are aware what a massive cost that will be. Mr E.S. Ripper : Who says we are going to pay them out? Dr K.D. HAMES : The Leader of the Opposition said that about all existing contracts and contracts as they develop. Joondalup is not a contract that is fully in existence now; it is a contract that will grow with time. All of that growth will have to be funded if the Labor Party is going to buy those contracts out. Members opposite will be faced with a massive cost. Sadly, they will not be able to spend money on anything else! Mr E.S. Ripper : You have tied us with a 20-year contract—outrageous! Dr K.D. HAMES : It would outrageous if the Leader of the Opposition really intended to do that. However, he had the opportunity to do that with the Serco contract and the Joondalup hospital contract. We know they are empty, hollow words; we know he will not do that. We will know that when we go into the election campaign and see Labor’s costings, because there will be no costings for buying out the Joondalup contract—mark my words!
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: The member is extremely proud of the hospital in his electorate because it is doing fantastically well. We are very pleased with the progress we have made. Indeed, the former government must also be pleased with Joondalup Health Campus because the former government renewed and extended its contract. Obviously, the other side also thinks that the operation of such hospitals works extremely well. We brought in the four-hour rule for the peripheral ring of hospitals with a target to reach of 85 per cent. I must say that Joondalup Health Campus was struggling. It was having a lot of trouble with meeting that target for a few reasons. Firstly, the hospital underwent a major expansion. We virtually doubled the size of the emergency department and presentations each day went up by 18 per cent. The problems people presented with were not just simple little things that could have otherwise been dealt with by a general practitioner. People presented with middle level category problems, which put a huge amount of pressure on the hospital. Next, the hospital stopped diversions. Previously, ambulances would bypass Joondalup Health Campus and go to the tertiary hospitals. Therefore, it was extremely difficult for Joondalup to reach the 85 per cent target, but it did. Half of Perth must know that Joondalup reached that target because I received texts from Kempton Cowan on an almost weekly basis as Joondalup Health Campus got closer and closer to the target. Whenever I went to a function and asked anybody who has anything to do with health what they knew about it, I found out that they all received a copy of the same text. He must have sent those texts far and wide. He had exclamation marks everywhere as the hospital got closer to the target. It was difficult to achieve and Kempton Cowan was obviously excited when the target was reached. It is fantastic that Joondalup Health Campus has achieved that result. This is a good opportunity to talk about the four-hour rule and what this state government intends to do about it. As we know, the commonwealth has instigated a copy of our four-hour rule across the whole of Australia. An independent committee made up of members from all over Australia, including one from Western Australia, has looked at the differences between Western Australia and the United Kingdom, from which we copied the percentage that we required. The committee looked at the differences in the way we employ doctors within our system and what a safe outcome is for patients in the hospital. The commonwealth has set a target that is lower than the target that we originally set, and whilst we are now well above the target in any other state, we will adopt that commonwealth target, which is 90 per cent for 2015. That is the target that we intend our hospitals will reach. Previously, the target was 98 per cent. It is a reduction, but one that we fully support. Joondalup Health Campus, as I have said, is doing an excellent job. It is interesting that the member for Swan Hills has a great opportunity coming up in the future. He has been invited to talk to the people at United Voice, and I hope they will be united in their voice in support of the fantastic system we have in place at Joondalup hospital and that it will be replicated for the people in Midland and surrounding regions. That will be a service of which they can be proud. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I know the member for Girrawheen is proud of the service provided to her electorate by Joondalup hospital, because the former Labor Minister for Health not only signed the contract but expanded the contract; and, of course, the Leader of the Opposition expanded the amount of funds that were going to be available to that private provider. Obviously, members opposite like that system. That is why, of course, the former Labor government gave a contract to Serco and then followed it up with a subsequent contract. The former government obviously liked that system, and it is surprising that members opposite have said they would can all of those contracts when they get into government. I will be very interested to see that on the bottom line of Labor’s election campaign when we have to look at the Labor Party’s funding contributions that will be required. The opposition will have no money for anything else once it pays out all those contracts that are in existence. I am sure members opposite are aware what a massive cost that will be. Mr E.S. Ripper : Who says we are going to pay them out? Dr K.D. HAMES : The Leader of the Opposition said that about all existing contracts and contracts as they develop. Joondalup is not a contract that is fully in existence now; it is a contract that will grow with time. All of that growth will have to be funded if the Labor Party is going to buy those contracts out. Members opposite will be faced with a massive cost. Sadly, they will not be able to spend money on anything else! Mr E.S. Ripper : You have tied us with a 20-year contract—outrageous! Dr K.D. HAMES : It would outrageous if the Leader of the Opposition really intended to do that. However, he had the opportunity to do that with the Serco contract and the Joondalup hospital contract. We know they are empty, hollow words; we know he will not do that. We will know that when we go into the election campaign and see Labor’s costings, because there will be no costings for buying out the Joondalup contract—mark my words!
The member is extremely proud of the hospital in his electorate because it is doing fantastically well. We are very pleased with the progress we have made. Indeed, the former government must also be pleased with Joondalup Health Campus because the former government renewed and extended its contract. Obviously, the other side also thinks that the operation of such hospitals works extremely well. We brought in the four-hour rule for the peripheral ring of hospitals with a target to reach of 85 per cent. I must say that Joondalup Health Campus was struggling. It was having a lot of trouble with meeting that target for a few reasons. Firstly, the hospital underwent a major expansion. We virtually doubled the size of the emergency department and presentations each day went up by 18 per cent. The problems people presented with were not just simple little things that could have otherwise been dealt with by a general practitioner. People presented with middle level category problems, which put a huge amount of pressure on the hospital. Next, the hospital stopped diversions. Previously, ambulances would bypass Joondalup Health Campus and go to the tertiary hospitals. Therefore, it was extremely difficult for Joondalup to reach the 85 per cent target, but it did. Half of Perth must know that Joondalup reached that target because I received texts from Kempton Cowan on an almost weekly basis as Joondalup Health Campus got closer and closer to the target. Whenever I went to a function and asked anybody who has anything to do with health what they knew about it, I found out that they all received a copy of the same text. He must have sent those texts far and wide. He had exclamation marks everywhere as the hospital got closer to the target. It was difficult to achieve and Kempton Cowan was obviously excited when the target was reached. It is fantastic that Joondalup Health Campus has achieved that result. This is a good opportunity to talk about the four-hour rule and what this state government intends to do about it. As we know, the commonwealth has instigated a copy of our four-hour rule across the whole of Australia. An independent committee made up of members from all over Australia, including one from Western Australia, has looked at the differences between Western Australia and the United Kingdom, from which we copied the percentage that we required. The committee looked at the differences in the way we employ doctors within our system and what a safe outcome is for patients in the hospital. The commonwealth has set a target that is lower than the target that we originally set, and whilst we are now well above the target in any other state, we will adopt that commonwealth target, which is 90 per cent for 2015. That is the target that we intend our hospitals will reach. Previously, the target was 98 per cent. It is a reduction, but one that we fully support. Joondalup Health Campus, as I have said, is doing an excellent job. It is interesting that the member for Swan Hills has a great opportunity coming up in the future. He has been invited to talk to the people at United Voice, and I hope they will be united in their voice in support of the fantastic system we have in place at Joondalup hospital and that it will be replicated for the people in Midland and surrounding regions. That will be a service of which they can be proud. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I know the member for Girrawheen is proud of the service provided to her electorate by Joondalup hospital, because the former Labor Minister for Health not only signed the contract but expanded the contract; and, of course, the Leader of the Opposition expanded the amount of funds that were going to be available to that private provider. Obviously, members opposite like that system. That is why, of course, the former Labor government gave a contract to Serco and then followed it up with a subsequent contract. The former government obviously liked that system, and it is surprising that members opposite have said they would can all of those contracts when they get into government. I will be very interested to see that on the bottom line of Labor’s election campaign when we have to look at the Labor Party’s funding contributions that will be required. The opposition will have no money for anything else once it pays out all those contracts that are in existence. I am sure members opposite are aware what a massive cost that will be. Mr E.S. Ripper : Who says we are going to pay them out? Dr K.D. HAMES : The Leader of the Opposition said that about all existing contracts and contracts as they develop. Joondalup is not a contract that is fully in existence now; it is a contract that will grow with time. All of that growth will have to be funded if the Labor Party is going to buy those contracts out. Members opposite will be faced with a massive cost. Sadly, they will not be able to spend money on anything else! Mr E.S. Ripper : You have tied us with a 20-year contract—outrageous! Dr K.D. HAMES : It would outrageous if the Leader of the Opposition really intended to do that. However, he had the opportunity to do that with the Serco contract and the Joondalup hospital contract. We know they are empty, hollow words; we know he will not do that. We will know that when we go into the election campaign and see Labor’s costings, because there will be no costings for buying out the Joondalup contract—mark my words!
We brought in the four-hour rule for the peripheral ring of hospitals with a target to reach of 85 per cent. I must say that Joondalup Health Campus was struggling. It was having a lot of trouble with meeting that target for a few reasons. Firstly, the hospital underwent a major expansion. We virtually doubled the size of the emergency department and presentations each day went up by 18 per cent. The problems people presented with were not just simple little things that could have otherwise been dealt with by a general practitioner. People presented with middle level category problems, which put a huge amount of pressure on the hospital. Next, the hospital stopped diversions. Previously, ambulances would bypass Joondalup Health Campus and go to the tertiary hospitals. Therefore, it was extremely difficult for Joondalup to reach the 85 per cent target, but it did. Half of Perth must know that Joondalup reached that target because I received texts from Kempton Cowan on an almost weekly basis as Joondalup Health Campus got closer and closer to the target. Whenever I went to a function and asked anybody who has anything to do with health what they knew about it, I found out that they all received a copy of the same text. He must have sent those texts far and wide. He had exclamation marks everywhere as the hospital got closer to the target. It was difficult to achieve and Kempton Cowan was obviously excited when the target was reached. It is fantastic that Joondalup Health Campus has achieved that result. This is a good opportunity to talk about the four-hour rule and what this state government intends to do about it. As we know, the commonwealth has instigated a copy of our four-hour rule across the whole of Australia. An independent committee made up of members from all over Australia, including one from Western Australia, has looked at the differences between Western Australia and the United Kingdom, from which we copied the percentage that we required. The committee looked at the differences in the way we employ doctors within our system and what a safe outcome is for patients in the hospital. The commonwealth has set a target that is lower than the target that we originally set, and whilst we are now well above the target in any other state, we will adopt that commonwealth target, which is 90 per cent for 2015. That is the target that we intend our hospitals will reach. Previously, the target was 98 per cent. It is a reduction, but one that we fully support. Joondalup Health Campus, as I have said, is doing an excellent job. It is interesting that the member for Swan Hills has a great opportunity coming up in the future. He has been invited to talk to the people at United Voice, and I hope they will be united in their voice in support of the fantastic system we have in place at Joondalup hospital and that it will be replicated for the people in Midland and surrounding regions. That will be a service of which they can be proud. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I know the member for Girrawheen is proud of the service provided to her electorate by Joondalup hospital, because the former Labor Minister for Health not only signed the contract but expanded the contract; and, of course, the Leader of the Opposition expanded the amount of funds that were going to be available to that private provider. Obviously, members opposite like that system. That is why, of course, the former Labor government gave a contract to Serco and then followed it up with a subsequent contract. The former government obviously liked that system, and it is surprising that members opposite have said they would can all of those contracts when they get into government. I will be very interested to see that on the bottom line of Labor’s election campaign when we have to look at the Labor Party’s funding contributions that will be required. The opposition will have no money for anything else once it pays out all those contracts that are in existence. I am sure members opposite are aware what a massive cost that will be. Mr E.S. Ripper : Who says we are going to pay them out? Dr K.D. HAMES : The Leader of the Opposition said that about all existing contracts and contracts as they develop. Joondalup is not a contract that is fully in existence now; it is a contract that will grow with time. All of that growth will have to be funded if the Labor Party is going to buy those contracts out. Members opposite will be faced with a massive cost. Sadly, they will not be able to spend money on anything else! Mr E.S. Ripper : You have tied us with a 20-year contract—outrageous! Dr K.D. HAMES : It would outrageous if the Leader of the Opposition really intended to do that. However, he had the opportunity to do that with the Serco contract and the Joondalup hospital contract. We know they are empty, hollow words; we know he will not do that. We will know that when we go into the election campaign and see Labor’s costings, because there will be no costings for buying out the Joondalup contract—mark my words!
This is a good opportunity to talk about the four-hour rule and what this state government intends to do about it. As we know, the commonwealth has instigated a copy of our four-hour rule across the whole of Australia. An independent committee made up of members from all over Australia, including one from Western Australia, has looked at the differences between Western Australia and the United Kingdom, from which we copied the percentage that we required. The committee looked at the differences in the way we employ doctors within our system and what a safe outcome is for patients in the hospital. The commonwealth has set a target that is lower than the target that we originally set, and whilst we are now well above the target in any other state, we will adopt that commonwealth target, which is 90 per cent for 2015. That is the target that we intend our hospitals will reach. Previously, the target was 98 per cent. It is a reduction, but one that we fully support. Joondalup Health Campus, as I have said, is doing an excellent job. It is interesting that the member for Swan Hills has a great opportunity coming up in the future. He has been invited to talk to the people at United Voice, and I hope they will be united in their voice in support of the fantastic system we have in place at Joondalup hospital and that it will be replicated for the people in Midland and surrounding regions. That will be a service of which they can be proud. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I know the member for Girrawheen is proud of the service provided to her electorate by Joondalup hospital, because the former Labor Minister for Health not only signed the contract but expanded the contract; and, of course, the Leader of the Opposition expanded the amount of funds that were going to be available to that private provider. Obviously, members opposite like that system. That is why, of course, the former Labor government gave a contract to Serco and then followed it up with a subsequent contract. The former government obviously liked that system, and it is surprising that members opposite have said they would can all of those contracts when they get into government. I will be very interested to see that on the bottom line of Labor’s election campaign when we have to look at the Labor Party’s funding contributions that will be required. The opposition will have no money for anything else once it pays out all those contracts that are in existence. I am sure members opposite are aware what a massive cost that will be. Mr E.S. Ripper : Who says we are going to pay them out? Dr K.D. HAMES : The Leader of the Opposition said that about all existing contracts and contracts as they develop. Joondalup is not a contract that is fully in existence now; it is a contract that will grow with time. All of that growth will have to be funded if the Labor Party is going to buy those contracts out. Members opposite will be faced with a massive cost. Sadly, they will not be able to spend money on anything else! Mr E.S. Ripper : You have tied us with a 20-year contract—outrageous! Dr K.D. HAMES : It would outrageous if the Leader of the Opposition really intended to do that. However, he had the opportunity to do that with the Serco contract and the Joondalup hospital contract. We know they are empty, hollow words; we know he will not do that. We will know that when we go into the election campaign and see Labor’s costings, because there will be no costings for buying out the Joondalup contract—mark my words!
Joondalup Health Campus, as I have said, is doing an excellent job. It is interesting that the member for Swan Hills has a great opportunity coming up in the future. He has been invited to talk to the people at United Voice, and I hope they will be united in their voice in support of the fantastic system we have in place at Joondalup hospital and that it will be replicated for the people in Midland and surrounding regions. That will be a service of which they can be proud. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I know the member for Girrawheen is proud of the service provided to her electorate by Joondalup hospital, because the former Labor Minister for Health not only signed the contract but expanded the contract; and, of course, the Leader of the Opposition expanded the amount of funds that were going to be available to that private provider. Obviously, members opposite like that system. That is why, of course, the former Labor government gave a contract to Serco and then followed it up with a subsequent contract. The former government obviously liked that system, and it is surprising that members opposite have said they would can all of those contracts when they get into government. I will be very interested to see that on the bottom line of Labor’s election campaign when we have to look at the Labor Party’s funding contributions that will be required. The opposition will have no money for anything else once it pays out all those contracts that are in existence. I am sure members opposite are aware what a massive cost that will be. Mr E.S. Ripper : Who says we are going to pay them out? Dr K.D. HAMES : The Leader of the Opposition said that about all existing contracts and contracts as they develop. Joondalup is not a contract that is fully in existence now; it is a contract that will grow with time. All of that growth will have to be funded if the Labor Party is going to buy those contracts out. Members opposite will be faced with a massive cost. Sadly, they will not be able to spend money on anything else! Mr E.S. Ripper : You have tied us with a 20-year contract—outrageous! Dr K.D. HAMES : It would outrageous if the Leader of the Opposition really intended to do that. However, he had the opportunity to do that with the Serco contract and the Joondalup hospital contract. We know they are empty, hollow words; we know he will not do that. We will know that when we go into the election campaign and see Labor’s costings, because there will be no costings for buying out the Joondalup contract—mark my words!
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I know the member for Girrawheen is proud of the service provided to her electorate by Joondalup hospital, because the former Labor Minister for Health not only signed the contract but expanded the contract; and, of course, the Leader of the Opposition expanded the amount of funds that were going to be available to that private provider. Obviously, members opposite like that system. That is why, of course, the former Labor government gave a contract to Serco and then followed it up with a subsequent contract. The former government obviously liked that system, and it is surprising that members opposite have said they would can all of those contracts when they get into government. I will be very interested to see that on the bottom line of Labor’s election campaign when we have to look at the Labor Party’s funding contributions that will be required. The opposition will have no money for anything else once it pays out all those contracts that are in existence. I am sure members opposite are aware what a massive cost that will be. Mr E.S. Ripper : Who says we are going to pay them out? Dr K.D. HAMES : The Leader of the Opposition said that about all existing contracts and contracts as they develop. Joondalup is not a contract that is fully in existence now; it is a contract that will grow with time. All of that growth will have to be funded if the Labor Party is going to buy those contracts out. Members opposite will be faced with a massive cost. Sadly, they will not be able to spend money on anything else! Mr E.S. Ripper : You have tied us with a 20-year contract—outrageous! Dr K.D. HAMES : It would outrageous if the Leader of the Opposition really intended to do that. However, he had the opportunity to do that with the Serco contract and the Joondalup hospital contract. We know they are empty, hollow words; we know he will not do that. We will know that when we go into the election campaign and see Labor’s costings, because there will be no costings for buying out the Joondalup contract—mark my words!
Dr K.D. HAMES : I know the member for Girrawheen is proud of the service provided to her electorate by Joondalup hospital, because the former Labor Minister for Health not only signed the contract but expanded the contract; and, of course, the Leader of the Opposition expanded the amount of funds that were going to be available to that private provider. Obviously, members opposite like that system. That is why, of course, the former Labor government gave a contract to Serco and then followed it up with a subsequent contract. The former government obviously liked that system, and it is surprising that members opposite have said they would can all of those contracts when they get into government. I will be very interested to see that on the bottom line of Labor’s election campaign when we have to look at the Labor Party’s funding contributions that will be required. The opposition will have no money for anything else once it pays out all those contracts that are in existence. I am sure members opposite are aware what a massive cost that will be. Mr E.S. Ripper : Who says we are going to pay them out? Dr K.D. HAMES : The Leader of the Opposition said that about all existing contracts and contracts as they develop. Joondalup is not a contract that is fully in existence now; it is a contract that will grow with time. All of that growth will have to be funded if the Labor Party is going to buy those contracts out. Members opposite will be faced with a massive cost. Sadly, they will not be able to spend money on anything else! Mr E.S. Ripper : You have tied us with a 20-year contract—outrageous! Dr K.D. HAMES : It would outrageous if the Leader of the Opposition really intended to do that. However, he had the opportunity to do that with the Serco contract and the Joondalup hospital contract. We know they are empty, hollow words; we know he will not do that. We will know that when we go into the election campaign and see Labor’s costings, because there will be no costings for buying out the Joondalup contract—mark my words!
Mr E.S. Ripper : Who says we are going to pay them out? Dr K.D. HAMES : The Leader of the Opposition said that about all existing contracts and contracts as they develop. Joondalup is not a contract that is fully in existence now; it is a contract that will grow with time. All of that growth will have to be funded if the Labor Party is going to buy those contracts out. Members opposite will be faced with a massive cost. Sadly, they will not be able to spend money on anything else! Mr E.S. Ripper : You have tied us with a 20-year contract—outrageous! Dr K.D. HAMES : It would outrageous if the Leader of the Opposition really intended to do that. However, he had the opportunity to do that with the Serco contract and the Joondalup hospital contract. We know they are empty, hollow words; we know he will not do that. We will know that when we go into the election campaign and see Labor’s costings, because there will be no costings for buying out the Joondalup contract—mark my words!
Dr K.D. HAMES : The Leader of the Opposition said that about all existing contracts and contracts as they develop. Joondalup is not a contract that is fully in existence now; it is a contract that will grow with time. All of that growth will have to be funded if the Labor Party is going to buy those contracts out. Members opposite will be faced with a massive cost. Sadly, they will not be able to spend money on anything else! Mr E.S. Ripper : You have tied us with a 20-year contract—outrageous! Dr K.D. HAMES : It would outrageous if the Leader of the Opposition really intended to do that. However, he had the opportunity to do that with the Serco contract and the Joondalup hospital contract. We know they are empty, hollow words; we know he will not do that. We will know that when we go into the election campaign and see Labor’s costings, because there will be no costings for buying out the Joondalup contract—mark my words!
Mr E.S. Ripper : You have tied us with a 20-year contract—outrageous! Dr K.D. HAMES : It would outrageous if the Leader of the Opposition really intended to do that. However, he had the opportunity to do that with the Serco contract and the Joondalup hospital contract. We know they are empty, hollow words; we know he will not do that. We will know that when we go into the election campaign and see Labor’s costings, because there will be no costings for buying out the Joondalup contract—mark my words!
Dr K.D. HAMES : It would outrageous if the Leader of the Opposition really intended to do that. However, he had the opportunity to do that with the Serco contract and the Joondalup hospital contract. We know they are empty, hollow words; we know he will not do that. We will know that when we go into the election campaign and see Labor’s costings, because there will be no costings for buying out the Joondalup contract—mark my words!
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