State budget—Government priorities
157. Mr Basil Zempilas to the Premier:
How is it that the government can announce budget funding and release a tender for the scope, design and construction works for the racetrack?
(1) Why can government ministers not tell the public when the women's and babies' hospital will open?
(2) Will the government tell us when the promised works at Royal Perth Hospital's emergency department will be completed?
(3) Will the government commit to the Peel Health Campus redevelopment being completed by 2027?
(4) Will the government tell us when work will begin on the Meekatharra Hospital and the new Mullewa Health Campus?
Mr Roger Cook replied:
(1)–(4) I thank the member for the question. It gives us an opportunity to talk about our priorities as a WA Labor government. Our priorities are jobs—
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members! You have asked a question. Let the Premier respond.
Mr Roger Cook: Our priorities are jobs, health and housing, and that will continue to be the case. Let me take members through the list of projects that we are currently committed to. There has been $14.3 billion in extra funding for health since 2021. Part of our infrastructure rebuild goes the length and breadth of this state. For our new women's and babies' hospital, there is $1.8 billion, and for Murdoch, Osborne Park and Perth Children's Hospitals. For the Bunbury Hospital, there is a $451 million redevelopment with over 100 beds. For Geraldton Health Campus, there is a $188 million redevelopment, including an emergency department, an intensive care unit and mental health beds. There is $8.6 million for the expansion of the health centre at Fitzroy Crossing. For Peel Health Campus, there is a $152 million redevelopment to outpatients, the ED and for mental health. As the Minister for Health Infrastructure pointed out, they will be delivered by the public for the public. Joondalup Health Campus has had a $284 million redevelopment with over 200 new beds and an expanded emergency department. Fremantle Hospital has had a $264 million upgrade for 40 new mental health beds.
I know the Speaker wanted us to be brief, but the list is long, so please bear with me. Perth Children's Hospital has had a $21.9 million refurbishment to ward 5A. Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital has had a $50 million upgrade to the ED ambulance triage area with 10 intensive care unit beds. The Karratha step-up, step-down program has had $19.7 million for a six-bed mental health facility. There is the commitment to Laverton Hospital for the ED and outpatient facilities and mental health and drug and alcohol services, and, of course, the Byford health hub, which is integrated health and social care for families.
This is the biggest health infrastructure rebuild in the state's history. It is an important part of continuing to make sure that Western Australians enjoy the very best health care on offer, no matter where they live in this great state.
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members! The member for Cottesloe!
Mr Roger Cook: They say an empty vessel makes the loudest noise, and it is particularly loud today.
The opposition has the luxury of being able to focus on single issues; we understand that. The government has the responsibility to deliver across a range of policy areas. Governments need to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. The priorities for my government are jobs, health and housing. The Perth entertainment and sporting precinct is one of our strategies to diversify the economy and create jobs. It is part of a strategy to remain the strongest economy in the nation.
Several members interjected.
Mr Roger Cook: This is in addition to everything else that we have been doing. I just want to remind the chamber, because it is very important to see what is going on in health care today. I know the Speaker wants me to be brief, but it is hard when we do so much work in a particular policy area. For instance, we have invested over $14.3 billion extra in health since 2021. That involved growing the health workforce by over 30%, with 4,400 more nurses, over 1,800 new doctors and Higher Education Contribution Scheme grants of up to $12,000 for new nurses and midwives to work in the regions. This contrasts sharply with the record of the previous Liberal–National government.
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition! Opposition members! Thank you. Carry on, Premier.
Mr Roger Cook: Can the Speaker believe that the health workforce under the Liberal–National government actually went down. It actually went down. It is shameful. There were 645 fewer nurses and 60% fewer midwives between 15 July and 16 July.
Mr Basil Zempilas: That was nine years ago, Premier.
Mr Roger Cook: There was a decrease in the number of doctors of 131 and a decrease of 70 paediatricians. The Leader of the Opposition says this was nine years ago, so let me remind members what happened more than nine years ago.
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: The Liberals and Nationals were elected on the promise in 2008 that they would save and upgrade Royal Perth Hospital. Nothing happened for four years.
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Members!
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, that was not part of your original question. You cannot add to it whilst you are getting a response. Carry on, Premier.
Mr Roger Cook: What did the Liberal–National government do after 2008? Did it apologise to the WA public? No; it doubled down! It doubled down in 2013 and said, “We're really getting onto it this time!” And, of course, we saw another breathtaking three and a half years of nothing. Nothing! It neglected Royal Perth Hospital. It simply ignored it. It said, “Happy to take the votes!”. I remember the member for Mount Lawley at the time, Hon Michael Sutherland, was very bullish. He is gone. I remember the member for Perth, Eleni Evangel—she is gone.
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Basil Zempilas: It was nine years, Premier!
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: I remember the member for Morley—sorry, I cannot remember his name—Hon Ian Britza. He has gone!
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Members! Thank you, Premier.
Mr Roger Cook: We have an extensive and comprehensive health infrastructure program. It is why we have one of our very best ministers working in this area to make sure that we can continue for the benefit of the people of Western Australia. The people of Western Australia know that health and health infrastructure will always be stronger under a WA Labor government.
158. Mr Basil Zempilas to the Premier
I have a supplementary question.
Why is it that the Premier and the Treasurer can get on with building a racetrack, yet there is no urgency given to the women's and babies’ hospital, the Royal Perth emergency department, Peel Health Campus and the Meekatharra and Mullewa Hospitals?
Point of order
Dr Tony Buti: The supplementary has nearly identical terms to the original question; that is not a supplementary question.
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Thank you, members. I will make the determination on the point of order. I do not need your assistance. I appreciate the offer. I shall not uphold that point of order.
Questions without notice resumed
Mr Roger Cook replied:
We are getting on with the new women's and babies’ hospital.
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: We have relied on the failed Leader of the Opposition, the member for Vasse, who tried to take on this particular project, and we knew it would not get completed until the late 2030s!
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Members!
Mr Roger Cook: The WA public understood what was on offer at this election—a Liberal and National coalition that would see a delay of the women's and babies’ hospital until the late 2030s or a WA Labor government that will get on with it now. That is exactly what we will do.
The Speaker: That concludes question time.
