❓ Question regarding the implementation of stroke strategy recommendations, establishment of a stroke unit at Fremantle Hospital, and additional hospital beds. The Minister's answer deflects, focusing on funding disputes with the federal government and highlighting investments at Princess Margaret Hospital.
AnsweredQoN 1133Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) With this week marking Stroke Week, will the minister indicate when the Government is likely to implement the recommendations that the Western Australian stroke strategy implementation steering committee put forward more than a year ago? (2) In particular, when is it likely that a stroke unit will be established at Fremantle Hospital for the 250-plus patients who are treated at that hospital each year? (3) Will the minister indicate when Fremantle Hospital will get the additional hospital beds for which it has been waiting for almost two years? (4) Is there any reason those additional hospital beds could not be used to establish a stroke unit? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(4) I will deal first with the last point raised by the member. The Government is undergoing a process designed to make sure that it sharpens its focus on the core areas of health care delivery. It is a difficult process. Some pain is associated with some of the realignment that is taking place within the health system. However, it is being done for a simple reason; this is, to focus on the guarantees that the public wants so far as our public health system is concerned. Part of that is obviously to look at where beds can be made available and services provided, such as the magnetic resonance imaging machine at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, which I officially opened this morning. Mr J.H.D. Day: What about one for Fremantle Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Exactly. What about one for Fremantle Hospital? I do not regard an MRI machine to be cutting edge, new technology. It is a basic, essential diagnostic tool that should be provided. The fact is that the previous Government did not provide it. Princess Margaret Hospital waited a decade for an MRI machine. Not only that, but when we went to negotiate with the Commonwealth Government, who undermined the efforts of the State to get a licence? Mr M.F. Board: We got you the money. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Does the member for Murdoch regard that as a good effort? I will pity the people of Western Australia if the member for Murdoch ever becomes the health minister of this State. The young cancer sufferers I met at PMH this morning were incredibly grateful, as they should have been, because at long last PMH has the services that it should have had earlier. That should have happened a decade ago. It did not happen during the 1990s, when it should have happened. I am very disappointed. I made the point this morning that when necessary and wholesome things need to be done, it should be a cooperative exercise between the federal and State Governments. I will point out how bitterly disappointed most, if not all, members of this House are that the Commonwealth Government has failed to meet its responsibility to provide a licence, by which it would contribute on an ongoing basis to the recurrent cost of operating this machine, which will look after the sick and seriously ill children in this State. I will move on to the need to provide an MRI machine at Fremantle Hospital, which I regard as an essential diagnostic tool. Mr J.H.D. Day: We funded it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The previous Government did not do it. Mr J.H.D. Day: We did. The money was available from the sale of AlintaGas. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
(2) In particular, when is it likely that a stroke unit will be established at Fremantle Hospital for the 250-plus patients who are treated at that hospital each year? (3) Will the minister indicate when Fremantle Hospital will get the additional hospital beds for which it has been waiting for almost two years? (4) Is there any reason those additional hospital beds could not be used to establish a stroke unit? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(4) I will deal first with the last point raised by the member. The Government is undergoing a process designed to make sure that it sharpens its focus on the core areas of health care delivery. It is a difficult process. Some pain is associated with some of the realignment that is taking place within the health system. However, it is being done for a simple reason; this is, to focus on the guarantees that the public wants so far as our public health system is concerned. Part of that is obviously to look at where beds can be made available and services provided, such as the magnetic resonance imaging machine at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, which I officially opened this morning. Mr J.H.D. Day: What about one for Fremantle Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Exactly. What about one for Fremantle Hospital? I do not regard an MRI machine to be cutting edge, new technology. It is a basic, essential diagnostic tool that should be provided. The fact is that the previous Government did not provide it. Princess Margaret Hospital waited a decade for an MRI machine. Not only that, but when we went to negotiate with the Commonwealth Government, who undermined the efforts of the State to get a licence? Mr M.F. Board: We got you the money. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Does the member for Murdoch regard that as a good effort? I will pity the people of Western Australia if the member for Murdoch ever becomes the health minister of this State. The young cancer sufferers I met at PMH this morning were incredibly grateful, as they should have been, because at long last PMH has the services that it should have had earlier. That should have happened a decade ago. It did not happen during the 1990s, when it should have happened. I am very disappointed. I made the point this morning that when necessary and wholesome things need to be done, it should be a cooperative exercise between the federal and State Governments. I will point out how bitterly disappointed most, if not all, members of this House are that the Commonwealth Government has failed to meet its responsibility to provide a licence, by which it would contribute on an ongoing basis to the recurrent cost of operating this machine, which will look after the sick and seriously ill children in this State. I will move on to the need to provide an MRI machine at Fremantle Hospital, which I regard as an essential diagnostic tool. Mr J.H.D. Day: We funded it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The previous Government did not do it. Mr J.H.D. Day: We did. The money was available from the sale of AlintaGas. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
(3) Will the minister indicate when Fremantle Hospital will get the additional hospital beds for which it has been waiting for almost two years? (4) Is there any reason those additional hospital beds could not be used to establish a stroke unit? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(4) I will deal first with the last point raised by the member. The Government is undergoing a process designed to make sure that it sharpens its focus on the core areas of health care delivery. It is a difficult process. Some pain is associated with some of the realignment that is taking place within the health system. However, it is being done for a simple reason; this is, to focus on the guarantees that the public wants so far as our public health system is concerned. Part of that is obviously to look at where beds can be made available and services provided, such as the magnetic resonance imaging machine at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, which I officially opened this morning. Mr J.H.D. Day: What about one for Fremantle Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Exactly. What about one for Fremantle Hospital? I do not regard an MRI machine to be cutting edge, new technology. It is a basic, essential diagnostic tool that should be provided. The fact is that the previous Government did not provide it. Princess Margaret Hospital waited a decade for an MRI machine. Not only that, but when we went to negotiate with the Commonwealth Government, who undermined the efforts of the State to get a licence? Mr M.F. Board: We got you the money. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Does the member for Murdoch regard that as a good effort? I will pity the people of Western Australia if the member for Murdoch ever becomes the health minister of this State. The young cancer sufferers I met at PMH this morning were incredibly grateful, as they should have been, because at long last PMH has the services that it should have had earlier. That should have happened a decade ago. It did not happen during the 1990s, when it should have happened. I am very disappointed. I made the point this morning that when necessary and wholesome things need to be done, it should be a cooperative exercise between the federal and State Governments. I will point out how bitterly disappointed most, if not all, members of this House are that the Commonwealth Government has failed to meet its responsibility to provide a licence, by which it would contribute on an ongoing basis to the recurrent cost of operating this machine, which will look after the sick and seriously ill children in this State. I will move on to the need to provide an MRI machine at Fremantle Hospital, which I regard as an essential diagnostic tool. Mr J.H.D. Day: We funded it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The previous Government did not do it. Mr J.H.D. Day: We did. The money was available from the sale of AlintaGas. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
(4) Is there any reason those additional hospital beds could not be used to establish a stroke unit? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(4) I will deal first with the last point raised by the member. The Government is undergoing a process designed to make sure that it sharpens its focus on the core areas of health care delivery. It is a difficult process. Some pain is associated with some of the realignment that is taking place within the health system. However, it is being done for a simple reason; this is, to focus on the guarantees that the public wants so far as our public health system is concerned. Part of that is obviously to look at where beds can be made available and services provided, such as the magnetic resonance imaging machine at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, which I officially opened this morning. Mr J.H.D. Day: What about one for Fremantle Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Exactly. What about one for Fremantle Hospital? I do not regard an MRI machine to be cutting edge, new technology. It is a basic, essential diagnostic tool that should be provided. The fact is that the previous Government did not provide it. Princess Margaret Hospital waited a decade for an MRI machine. Not only that, but when we went to negotiate with the Commonwealth Government, who undermined the efforts of the State to get a licence? Mr M.F. Board: We got you the money. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Does the member for Murdoch regard that as a good effort? I will pity the people of Western Australia if the member for Murdoch ever becomes the health minister of this State. The young cancer sufferers I met at PMH this morning were incredibly grateful, as they should have been, because at long last PMH has the services that it should have had earlier. That should have happened a decade ago. It did not happen during the 1990s, when it should have happened. I am very disappointed. I made the point this morning that when necessary and wholesome things need to be done, it should be a cooperative exercise between the federal and State Governments. I will point out how bitterly disappointed most, if not all, members of this House are that the Commonwealth Government has failed to meet its responsibility to provide a licence, by which it would contribute on an ongoing basis to the recurrent cost of operating this machine, which will look after the sick and seriously ill children in this State. I will move on to the need to provide an MRI machine at Fremantle Hospital, which I regard as an essential diagnostic tool. Mr J.H.D. Day: We funded it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The previous Government did not do it. Mr J.H.D. Day: We did. The money was available from the sale of AlintaGas. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(4) I will deal first with the last point raised by the member. The Government is undergoing a process designed to make sure that it sharpens its focus on the core areas of health care delivery. It is a difficult process. Some pain is associated with some of the realignment that is taking place within the health system. However, it is being done for a simple reason; this is, to focus on the guarantees that the public wants so far as our public health system is concerned. Part of that is obviously to look at where beds can be made available and services provided, such as the magnetic resonance imaging machine at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, which I officially opened this morning. Mr J.H.D. Day: What about one for Fremantle Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Exactly. What about one for Fremantle Hospital? I do not regard an MRI machine to be cutting edge, new technology. It is a basic, essential diagnostic tool that should be provided. The fact is that the previous Government did not provide it. Princess Margaret Hospital waited a decade for an MRI machine. Not only that, but when we went to negotiate with the Commonwealth Government, who undermined the efforts of the State to get a licence? Mr M.F. Board: We got you the money. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Does the member for Murdoch regard that as a good effort? I will pity the people of Western Australia if the member for Murdoch ever becomes the health minister of this State. The young cancer sufferers I met at PMH this morning were incredibly grateful, as they should have been, because at long last PMH has the services that it should have had earlier. That should have happened a decade ago. It did not happen during the 1990s, when it should have happened. I am very disappointed. I made the point this morning that when necessary and wholesome things need to be done, it should be a cooperative exercise between the federal and State Governments. I will point out how bitterly disappointed most, if not all, members of this House are that the Commonwealth Government has failed to meet its responsibility to provide a licence, by which it would contribute on an ongoing basis to the recurrent cost of operating this machine, which will look after the sick and seriously ill children in this State. I will move on to the need to provide an MRI machine at Fremantle Hospital, which I regard as an essential diagnostic tool. Mr J.H.D. Day: We funded it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The previous Government did not do it. Mr J.H.D. Day: We did. The money was available from the sale of AlintaGas. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
(1)-(4) I will deal first with the last point raised by the member. The Government is undergoing a process designed to make sure that it sharpens its focus on the core areas of health care delivery. It is a difficult process. Some pain is associated with some of the realignment that is taking place within the health system. However, it is being done for a simple reason; this is, to focus on the guarantees that the public wants so far as our public health system is concerned. Part of that is obviously to look at where beds can be made available and services provided, such as the magnetic resonance imaging machine at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, which I officially opened this morning. Mr J.H.D. Day: What about one for Fremantle Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Exactly. What about one for Fremantle Hospital? I do not regard an MRI machine to be cutting edge, new technology. It is a basic, essential diagnostic tool that should be provided. The fact is that the previous Government did not provide it. Princess Margaret Hospital waited a decade for an MRI machine. Not only that, but when we went to negotiate with the Commonwealth Government, who undermined the efforts of the State to get a licence? Mr M.F. Board: We got you the money. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Does the member for Murdoch regard that as a good effort? I will pity the people of Western Australia if the member for Murdoch ever becomes the health minister of this State. The young cancer sufferers I met at PMH this morning were incredibly grateful, as they should have been, because at long last PMH has the services that it should have had earlier. That should have happened a decade ago. It did not happen during the 1990s, when it should have happened. I am very disappointed. I made the point this morning that when necessary and wholesome things need to be done, it should be a cooperative exercise between the federal and State Governments. I will point out how bitterly disappointed most, if not all, members of this House are that the Commonwealth Government has failed to meet its responsibility to provide a licence, by which it would contribute on an ongoing basis to the recurrent cost of operating this machine, which will look after the sick and seriously ill children in this State. I will move on to the need to provide an MRI machine at Fremantle Hospital, which I regard as an essential diagnostic tool. Mr J.H.D. Day: We funded it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The previous Government did not do it. Mr J.H.D. Day: We did. The money was available from the sale of AlintaGas. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr J.H.D. Day: What about one for Fremantle Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Exactly. What about one for Fremantle Hospital? I do not regard an MRI machine to be cutting edge, new technology. It is a basic, essential diagnostic tool that should be provided. The fact is that the previous Government did not provide it. Princess Margaret Hospital waited a decade for an MRI machine. Not only that, but when we went to negotiate with the Commonwealth Government, who undermined the efforts of the State to get a licence? Mr M.F. Board: We got you the money. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Does the member for Murdoch regard that as a good effort? I will pity the people of Western Australia if the member for Murdoch ever becomes the health minister of this State. The young cancer sufferers I met at PMH this morning were incredibly grateful, as they should have been, because at long last PMH has the services that it should have had earlier. That should have happened a decade ago. It did not happen during the 1990s, when it should have happened. I am very disappointed. I made the point this morning that when necessary and wholesome things need to be done, it should be a cooperative exercise between the federal and State Governments. I will point out how bitterly disappointed most, if not all, members of this House are that the Commonwealth Government has failed to meet its responsibility to provide a licence, by which it would contribute on an ongoing basis to the recurrent cost of operating this machine, which will look after the sick and seriously ill children in this State. I will move on to the need to provide an MRI machine at Fremantle Hospital, which I regard as an essential diagnostic tool. Mr J.H.D. Day: We funded it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The previous Government did not do it. Mr J.H.D. Day: We did. The money was available from the sale of AlintaGas. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Exactly. What about one for Fremantle Hospital? I do not regard an MRI machine to be cutting edge, new technology. It is a basic, essential diagnostic tool that should be provided. The fact is that the previous Government did not provide it. Princess Margaret Hospital waited a decade for an MRI machine. Not only that, but when we went to negotiate with the Commonwealth Government, who undermined the efforts of the State to get a licence? Mr M.F. Board: We got you the money. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Does the member for Murdoch regard that as a good effort? I will pity the people of Western Australia if the member for Murdoch ever becomes the health minister of this State. The young cancer sufferers I met at PMH this morning were incredibly grateful, as they should have been, because at long last PMH has the services that it should have had earlier. That should have happened a decade ago. It did not happen during the 1990s, when it should have happened. I am very disappointed. I made the point this morning that when necessary and wholesome things need to be done, it should be a cooperative exercise between the federal and State Governments. I will point out how bitterly disappointed most, if not all, members of this House are that the Commonwealth Government has failed to meet its responsibility to provide a licence, by which it would contribute on an ongoing basis to the recurrent cost of operating this machine, which will look after the sick and seriously ill children in this State. I will move on to the need to provide an MRI machine at Fremantle Hospital, which I regard as an essential diagnostic tool. Mr J.H.D. Day: We funded it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The previous Government did not do it. Mr J.H.D. Day: We did. The money was available from the sale of AlintaGas. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr M.F. Board: We got you the money. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Does the member for Murdoch regard that as a good effort? I will pity the people of Western Australia if the member for Murdoch ever becomes the health minister of this State. The young cancer sufferers I met at PMH this morning were incredibly grateful, as they should have been, because at long last PMH has the services that it should have had earlier. That should have happened a decade ago. It did not happen during the 1990s, when it should have happened. I am very disappointed. I made the point this morning that when necessary and wholesome things need to be done, it should be a cooperative exercise between the federal and State Governments. I will point out how bitterly disappointed most, if not all, members of this House are that the Commonwealth Government has failed to meet its responsibility to provide a licence, by which it would contribute on an ongoing basis to the recurrent cost of operating this machine, which will look after the sick and seriously ill children in this State. I will move on to the need to provide an MRI machine at Fremantle Hospital, which I regard as an essential diagnostic tool. Mr J.H.D. Day: We funded it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The previous Government did not do it. Mr J.H.D. Day: We did. The money was available from the sale of AlintaGas. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Does the member for Murdoch regard that as a good effort? I will pity the people of Western Australia if the member for Murdoch ever becomes the health minister of this State. The young cancer sufferers I met at PMH this morning were incredibly grateful, as they should have been, because at long last PMH has the services that it should have had earlier. That should have happened a decade ago. It did not happen during the 1990s, when it should have happened. I am very disappointed. I made the point this morning that when necessary and wholesome things need to be done, it should be a cooperative exercise between the federal and State Governments. I will point out how bitterly disappointed most, if not all, members of this House are that the Commonwealth Government has failed to meet its responsibility to provide a licence, by which it would contribute on an ongoing basis to the recurrent cost of operating this machine, which will look after the sick and seriously ill children in this State. I will move on to the need to provide an MRI machine at Fremantle Hospital, which I regard as an essential diagnostic tool. Mr J.H.D. Day: We funded it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The previous Government did not do it. Mr J.H.D. Day: We did. The money was available from the sale of AlintaGas. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
The young cancer sufferers I met at PMH this morning were incredibly grateful, as they should have been, because at long last PMH has the services that it should have had earlier. That should have happened a decade ago. It did not happen during the 1990s, when it should have happened. I am very disappointed. I made the point this morning that when necessary and wholesome things need to be done, it should be a cooperative exercise between the federal and State Governments. I will point out how bitterly disappointed most, if not all, members of this House are that the Commonwealth Government has failed to meet its responsibility to provide a licence, by which it would contribute on an ongoing basis to the recurrent cost of operating this machine, which will look after the sick and seriously ill children in this State. I will move on to the need to provide an MRI machine at Fremantle Hospital, which I regard as an essential diagnostic tool. Mr J.H.D. Day: We funded it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The previous Government did not do it. Mr J.H.D. Day: We did. The money was available from the sale of AlintaGas. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr J.H.D. Day: We funded it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The previous Government did not do it. Mr J.H.D. Day: We did. The money was available from the sale of AlintaGas. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: The previous Government did not do it. Mr J.H.D. Day: We did. The money was available from the sale of AlintaGas. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr J.H.D. Day: We did. The money was available from the sale of AlintaGas. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
(2) In particular, when is it likely that a stroke unit will be established at Fremantle Hospital for the 250-plus patients who are treated at that hospital each year? (3) Will the minister indicate when Fremantle Hospital will get the additional hospital beds for which it has been waiting for almost two years? (4) Is there any reason those additional hospital beds could not be used to establish a stroke unit? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(4) I will deal first with the last point raised by the member. The Government is undergoing a process designed to make sure that it sharpens its focus on the core areas of health care delivery. It is a difficult process. Some pain is associated with some of the realignment that is taking place within the health system. However, it is being done for a simple reason; this is, to focus on the guarantees that the public wants so far as our public health system is concerned. Part of that is obviously to look at where beds can be made available and services provided, such as the magnetic resonance imaging machine at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, which I officially opened this morning. Mr J.H.D. Day: What about one for Fremantle Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Exactly. What about one for Fremantle Hospital? I do not regard an MRI machine to be cutting edge, new technology. It is a basic, essential diagnostic tool that should be provided. The fact is that the previous Government did not provide it. Princess Margaret Hospital waited a decade for an MRI machine. Not only that, but when we went to negotiate with the Commonwealth Government, who undermined the efforts of the State to get a licence? Mr M.F. Board: We got you the money. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Does the member for Murdoch regard that as a good effort? I will pity the people of Western Australia if the member for Murdoch ever becomes the health minister of this State. The young cancer sufferers I met at PMH this morning were incredibly grateful, as they should have been, because at long last PMH has the services that it should have had earlier. That should have happened a decade ago. It did not happen during the 1990s, when it should have happened. I am very disappointed. I made the point this morning that when necessary and wholesome things need to be done, it should be a cooperative exercise between the federal and State Governments. I will point out how bitterly disappointed most, if not all, members of this House are that the Commonwealth Government has failed to meet its responsibility to provide a licence, by which it would contribute on an ongoing basis to the recurrent cost of operating this machine, which will look after the sick and seriously ill children in this State. I will move on to the need to provide an MRI machine at Fremantle Hospital, which I regard as an essential diagnostic tool. Mr J.H.D. Day: We funded it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The previous Government did not do it. Mr J.H.D. Day: We did. The money was available from the sale of AlintaGas. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
(3) Will the minister indicate when Fremantle Hospital will get the additional hospital beds for which it has been waiting for almost two years? (4) Is there any reason those additional hospital beds could not be used to establish a stroke unit? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(4) I will deal first with the last point raised by the member. The Government is undergoing a process designed to make sure that it sharpens its focus on the core areas of health care delivery. It is a difficult process. Some pain is associated with some of the realignment that is taking place within the health system. However, it is being done for a simple reason; this is, to focus on the guarantees that the public wants so far as our public health system is concerned. Part of that is obviously to look at where beds can be made available and services provided, such as the magnetic resonance imaging machine at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, which I officially opened this morning. Mr J.H.D. Day: What about one for Fremantle Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Exactly. What about one for Fremantle Hospital? I do not regard an MRI machine to be cutting edge, new technology. It is a basic, essential diagnostic tool that should be provided. The fact is that the previous Government did not provide it. Princess Margaret Hospital waited a decade for an MRI machine. Not only that, but when we went to negotiate with the Commonwealth Government, who undermined the efforts of the State to get a licence? Mr M.F. Board: We got you the money. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Does the member for Murdoch regard that as a good effort? I will pity the people of Western Australia if the member for Murdoch ever becomes the health minister of this State. The young cancer sufferers I met at PMH this morning were incredibly grateful, as they should have been, because at long last PMH has the services that it should have had earlier. That should have happened a decade ago. It did not happen during the 1990s, when it should have happened. I am very disappointed. I made the point this morning that when necessary and wholesome things need to be done, it should be a cooperative exercise between the federal and State Governments. I will point out how bitterly disappointed most, if not all, members of this House are that the Commonwealth Government has failed to meet its responsibility to provide a licence, by which it would contribute on an ongoing basis to the recurrent cost of operating this machine, which will look after the sick and seriously ill children in this State. I will move on to the need to provide an MRI machine at Fremantle Hospital, which I regard as an essential diagnostic tool. Mr J.H.D. Day: We funded it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The previous Government did not do it. Mr J.H.D. Day: We did. The money was available from the sale of AlintaGas. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
(4) Is there any reason those additional hospital beds could not be used to establish a stroke unit? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(4) I will deal first with the last point raised by the member. The Government is undergoing a process designed to make sure that it sharpens its focus on the core areas of health care delivery. It is a difficult process. Some pain is associated with some of the realignment that is taking place within the health system. However, it is being done for a simple reason; this is, to focus on the guarantees that the public wants so far as our public health system is concerned. Part of that is obviously to look at where beds can be made available and services provided, such as the magnetic resonance imaging machine at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, which I officially opened this morning. Mr J.H.D. Day: What about one for Fremantle Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Exactly. What about one for Fremantle Hospital? I do not regard an MRI machine to be cutting edge, new technology. It is a basic, essential diagnostic tool that should be provided. The fact is that the previous Government did not provide it. Princess Margaret Hospital waited a decade for an MRI machine. Not only that, but when we went to negotiate with the Commonwealth Government, who undermined the efforts of the State to get a licence? Mr M.F. Board: We got you the money. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Does the member for Murdoch regard that as a good effort? I will pity the people of Western Australia if the member for Murdoch ever becomes the health minister of this State. The young cancer sufferers I met at PMH this morning were incredibly grateful, as they should have been, because at long last PMH has the services that it should have had earlier. That should have happened a decade ago. It did not happen during the 1990s, when it should have happened. I am very disappointed. I made the point this morning that when necessary and wholesome things need to be done, it should be a cooperative exercise between the federal and State Governments. I will point out how bitterly disappointed most, if not all, members of this House are that the Commonwealth Government has failed to meet its responsibility to provide a licence, by which it would contribute on an ongoing basis to the recurrent cost of operating this machine, which will look after the sick and seriously ill children in this State. I will move on to the need to provide an MRI machine at Fremantle Hospital, which I regard as an essential diagnostic tool. Mr J.H.D. Day: We funded it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The previous Government did not do it. Mr J.H.D. Day: We did. The money was available from the sale of AlintaGas. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(4) I will deal first with the last point raised by the member. The Government is undergoing a process designed to make sure that it sharpens its focus on the core areas of health care delivery. It is a difficult process. Some pain is associated with some of the realignment that is taking place within the health system. However, it is being done for a simple reason; this is, to focus on the guarantees that the public wants so far as our public health system is concerned. Part of that is obviously to look at where beds can be made available and services provided, such as the magnetic resonance imaging machine at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, which I officially opened this morning. Mr J.H.D. Day: What about one for Fremantle Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Exactly. What about one for Fremantle Hospital? I do not regard an MRI machine to be cutting edge, new technology. It is a basic, essential diagnostic tool that should be provided. The fact is that the previous Government did not provide it. Princess Margaret Hospital waited a decade for an MRI machine. Not only that, but when we went to negotiate with the Commonwealth Government, who undermined the efforts of the State to get a licence? Mr M.F. Board: We got you the money. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Does the member for Murdoch regard that as a good effort? I will pity the people of Western Australia if the member for Murdoch ever becomes the health minister of this State. The young cancer sufferers I met at PMH this morning were incredibly grateful, as they should have been, because at long last PMH has the services that it should have had earlier. That should have happened a decade ago. It did not happen during the 1990s, when it should have happened. I am very disappointed. I made the point this morning that when necessary and wholesome things need to be done, it should be a cooperative exercise between the federal and State Governments. I will point out how bitterly disappointed most, if not all, members of this House are that the Commonwealth Government has failed to meet its responsibility to provide a licence, by which it would contribute on an ongoing basis to the recurrent cost of operating this machine, which will look after the sick and seriously ill children in this State. I will move on to the need to provide an MRI machine at Fremantle Hospital, which I regard as an essential diagnostic tool. Mr J.H.D. Day: We funded it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The previous Government did not do it. Mr J.H.D. Day: We did. The money was available from the sale of AlintaGas. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
(1)-(4) I will deal first with the last point raised by the member. The Government is undergoing a process designed to make sure that it sharpens its focus on the core areas of health care delivery. It is a difficult process. Some pain is associated with some of the realignment that is taking place within the health system. However, it is being done for a simple reason; this is, to focus on the guarantees that the public wants so far as our public health system is concerned. Part of that is obviously to look at where beds can be made available and services provided, such as the magnetic resonance imaging machine at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, which I officially opened this morning. Mr J.H.D. Day: What about one for Fremantle Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Exactly. What about one for Fremantle Hospital? I do not regard an MRI machine to be cutting edge, new technology. It is a basic, essential diagnostic tool that should be provided. The fact is that the previous Government did not provide it. Princess Margaret Hospital waited a decade for an MRI machine. Not only that, but when we went to negotiate with the Commonwealth Government, who undermined the efforts of the State to get a licence? Mr M.F. Board: We got you the money. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Does the member for Murdoch regard that as a good effort? I will pity the people of Western Australia if the member for Murdoch ever becomes the health minister of this State. The young cancer sufferers I met at PMH this morning were incredibly grateful, as they should have been, because at long last PMH has the services that it should have had earlier. That should have happened a decade ago. It did not happen during the 1990s, when it should have happened. I am very disappointed. I made the point this morning that when necessary and wholesome things need to be done, it should be a cooperative exercise between the federal and State Governments. I will point out how bitterly disappointed most, if not all, members of this House are that the Commonwealth Government has failed to meet its responsibility to provide a licence, by which it would contribute on an ongoing basis to the recurrent cost of operating this machine, which will look after the sick and seriously ill children in this State. I will move on to the need to provide an MRI machine at Fremantle Hospital, which I regard as an essential diagnostic tool. Mr J.H.D. Day: We funded it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The previous Government did not do it. Mr J.H.D. Day: We did. The money was available from the sale of AlintaGas. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr J.H.D. Day: What about one for Fremantle Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Exactly. What about one for Fremantle Hospital? I do not regard an MRI machine to be cutting edge, new technology. It is a basic, essential diagnostic tool that should be provided. The fact is that the previous Government did not provide it. Princess Margaret Hospital waited a decade for an MRI machine. Not only that, but when we went to negotiate with the Commonwealth Government, who undermined the efforts of the State to get a licence? Mr M.F. Board: We got you the money. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Does the member for Murdoch regard that as a good effort? I will pity the people of Western Australia if the member for Murdoch ever becomes the health minister of this State. The young cancer sufferers I met at PMH this morning were incredibly grateful, as they should have been, because at long last PMH has the services that it should have had earlier. That should have happened a decade ago. It did not happen during the 1990s, when it should have happened. I am very disappointed. I made the point this morning that when necessary and wholesome things need to be done, it should be a cooperative exercise between the federal and State Governments. I will point out how bitterly disappointed most, if not all, members of this House are that the Commonwealth Government has failed to meet its responsibility to provide a licence, by which it would contribute on an ongoing basis to the recurrent cost of operating this machine, which will look after the sick and seriously ill children in this State. I will move on to the need to provide an MRI machine at Fremantle Hospital, which I regard as an essential diagnostic tool. Mr J.H.D. Day: We funded it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The previous Government did not do it. Mr J.H.D. Day: We did. The money was available from the sale of AlintaGas. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Exactly. What about one for Fremantle Hospital? I do not regard an MRI machine to be cutting edge, new technology. It is a basic, essential diagnostic tool that should be provided. The fact is that the previous Government did not provide it. Princess Margaret Hospital waited a decade for an MRI machine. Not only that, but when we went to negotiate with the Commonwealth Government, who undermined the efforts of the State to get a licence? Mr M.F. Board: We got you the money. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Does the member for Murdoch regard that as a good effort? I will pity the people of Western Australia if the member for Murdoch ever becomes the health minister of this State. The young cancer sufferers I met at PMH this morning were incredibly grateful, as they should have been, because at long last PMH has the services that it should have had earlier. That should have happened a decade ago. It did not happen during the 1990s, when it should have happened. I am very disappointed. I made the point this morning that when necessary and wholesome things need to be done, it should be a cooperative exercise between the federal and State Governments. I will point out how bitterly disappointed most, if not all, members of this House are that the Commonwealth Government has failed to meet its responsibility to provide a licence, by which it would contribute on an ongoing basis to the recurrent cost of operating this machine, which will look after the sick and seriously ill children in this State. I will move on to the need to provide an MRI machine at Fremantle Hospital, which I regard as an essential diagnostic tool. Mr J.H.D. Day: We funded it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The previous Government did not do it. Mr J.H.D. Day: We did. The money was available from the sale of AlintaGas. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr M.F. Board: We got you the money. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Does the member for Murdoch regard that as a good effort? I will pity the people of Western Australia if the member for Murdoch ever becomes the health minister of this State. The young cancer sufferers I met at PMH this morning were incredibly grateful, as they should have been, because at long last PMH has the services that it should have had earlier. That should have happened a decade ago. It did not happen during the 1990s, when it should have happened. I am very disappointed. I made the point this morning that when necessary and wholesome things need to be done, it should be a cooperative exercise between the federal and State Governments. I will point out how bitterly disappointed most, if not all, members of this House are that the Commonwealth Government has failed to meet its responsibility to provide a licence, by which it would contribute on an ongoing basis to the recurrent cost of operating this machine, which will look after the sick and seriously ill children in this State. I will move on to the need to provide an MRI machine at Fremantle Hospital, which I regard as an essential diagnostic tool. Mr J.H.D. Day: We funded it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The previous Government did not do it. Mr J.H.D. Day: We did. The money was available from the sale of AlintaGas. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Does the member for Murdoch regard that as a good effort? I will pity the people of Western Australia if the member for Murdoch ever becomes the health minister of this State. The young cancer sufferers I met at PMH this morning were incredibly grateful, as they should have been, because at long last PMH has the services that it should have had earlier. That should have happened a decade ago. It did not happen during the 1990s, when it should have happened. I am very disappointed. I made the point this morning that when necessary and wholesome things need to be done, it should be a cooperative exercise between the federal and State Governments. I will point out how bitterly disappointed most, if not all, members of this House are that the Commonwealth Government has failed to meet its responsibility to provide a licence, by which it would contribute on an ongoing basis to the recurrent cost of operating this machine, which will look after the sick and seriously ill children in this State. I will move on to the need to provide an MRI machine at Fremantle Hospital, which I regard as an essential diagnostic tool. Mr J.H.D. Day: We funded it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The previous Government did not do it. Mr J.H.D. Day: We did. The money was available from the sale of AlintaGas. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
The young cancer sufferers I met at PMH this morning were incredibly grateful, as they should have been, because at long last PMH has the services that it should have had earlier. That should have happened a decade ago. It did not happen during the 1990s, when it should have happened. I am very disappointed. I made the point this morning that when necessary and wholesome things need to be done, it should be a cooperative exercise between the federal and State Governments. I will point out how bitterly disappointed most, if not all, members of this House are that the Commonwealth Government has failed to meet its responsibility to provide a licence, by which it would contribute on an ongoing basis to the recurrent cost of operating this machine, which will look after the sick and seriously ill children in this State. I will move on to the need to provide an MRI machine at Fremantle Hospital, which I regard as an essential diagnostic tool. Mr J.H.D. Day: We funded it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The previous Government did not do it. Mr J.H.D. Day: We did. The money was available from the sale of AlintaGas. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr J.H.D. Day: We funded it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The previous Government did not do it. Mr J.H.D. Day: We did. The money was available from the sale of AlintaGas. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: The previous Government did not do it. Mr J.H.D. Day: We did. The money was available from the sale of AlintaGas. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr J.H.D. Day: We did. The money was available from the sale of AlintaGas. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: I met someone this morning who is an expert in the area of MRI technology. He told me that it was cutting edge technology 20 years ago. That equipment has not been provided to Fremantle Hospital because the federal Government will not come to the party and provide a licence for that machine. Therefore, it is not meeting its obligation. Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr C.J. Barnett: What nonsense! You don’t need a licence. Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: We have a very mean-spirited federal Government when it comes to the provision of essential health care in this State. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER: Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Kay Patterson and John Howard are incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to meeting the basic health care needs of the public of Western Australia. There should be a cooperative joint venture between the State and federal Governments to make sure that this sort of essential equipment is provided. I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
I answer the member for Alfred Cove’s question in this way: we are focusing on the essential or the core areas of health activity. We will do everything we can within the budgetary constraints that have been foisted on us, in part, by the federal Government cutting $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement over the next five years. A Government cannot continue to do what it has previously done if the federal Government takes $110 million out of the Australian health care agreement of funding for government hospitals in Western Australia. What compounds the problem is that it is not evenly spread over the five years. The reduction in funding to this State’s government hospitals this year is about $5 million and in the final year it is $40 million. I will make this simple point to the member: $40 million is four times the amount of cuts that we announced last week, which were forced upon us by a mean-spirited federal Government that has taken $110 million out of this State’s budget. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time and I call the member for Darling Range to order for the first time.
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