Health infrastructure
194. Mr Mark Folkard to the Premier:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's continued commitment to make Western Australia the healthiest state in the nation. Can the Premier outline to the house how this government is delivering upgrades to hospitals throughout the state?
Mr Roger Cook replied:
I thank the member for the question; it is a very important one because we know that the quintessential Western Australian life is defined by a good lifestyle and great health. There are many ways in which the government is supporting the population to achieve these outcomes. It starts with a strong economy with ample job opportunities. It involves access to a quality education and training. It continues with incredible community infrastructure like active transport, like Metronet, sporting facilities and bike paths.
Underpinning all that is an efficient, effective and resilient health system. My government is working every day to advance the health system and make WA the healthiest state in the nation, just as we are the strongest economy in the nation. To get there, we are overseeing the biggest investment in hospitals and health infrastructure this state has ever seen.
This morning, I was in Joondalup with the Minister for Health, the Minister for Health Infrastructure and a bevy of local members from our northern suburbs electorates to inspect part of this investment. Together, we announced that we would be investing $24 million into Joondalup Health Campus in the upcoming budget. This latest investment will add a further 60 beds for public patients in our northern suburbs and will add to the 800 beds that have been opened across our system since 2021. The investment adds to other work already completed under the Joondalup Health Campus expansion project to create more emergency department beds and help cut wait times. Combined, these upgrades will be a boon for the northern suburbs, an area of so much of WA's population growth and focus.
The Joondalup Health Campus upgrade joins a long list of health and hospital projects across the state. The budget may be released on Thursday but—spoiler alert—it includes a lot of health funding. There will be funding for Bunbury Regional Hospital, Albany Health Campus, Geraldton Health Campus's radiation and oncology, Kalbarri Health Centre, renal dialysis facilities in Karratha and Geraldton, and Kalgoorlie Health Campus in the regions. In the city, there will be funding for election commitments including expanding Royal Perth Hospital's emergency department and St John of God Midland Public Hospital, and continuing our existing projects, such as the women's and babies' hospital, Osborne Park Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. Additionally, over the last four years alone, we have increased the health workforce by more than 30%, adding to the doctors and nurses who stand by the beds in this growing health system.
At the same time, we are making other investments that will help keep our communities healthy. That includes investments in local organisations like sports clubs, recreation facilities, bike tracks and more. This budget will be an investment in healthier communities and a step towards making WA the healthiest state in the nation.
