Children's hospice—City of Nedlands
257. Ms Cassie Rowe to the Minister for Planning and Lands:
I refer to the minister's decision to excise land from the City of Nedlands to enable the construction of a park next to the WA children's hospice.
(1) Can the minister outline to the house why this decision was necessary?
(2) Can the minister advise the house what this decision means for any gravely ill children and their families in WA?
Mr John Carey replied:
(1)–(2) I thank the member for this question. I have to say this: as a minister, I make many decisions and I understand that every decision I make can have a profound impact on people's lives, but it has been a great honour, as the Minister for Planning and Lands, to make decisions that really do facilitate such an incredible project. I have cared for a mother with terminal cancer and have gone through the experience of looking after someone at their end stages. As I said at the time, I cannot imagine how it is for a parent to have to care for a child who is dying.
I want to acknowledge the advocacy of Barbara Goodwin and other parents of children who are at their end stages. I want to acknowledge their courage and bravery and also their advocacy on such an important issue. I know that we talk about politics in this place, but I want to acknowledge the support of the opposition for that excision.
This has been a protracted process. I am proud that our state Labor government facilitated the original approval through the Western Australian Planning Commission. I am sincere in saying that without that significant development pathway, I doubt that the project would have been approved, and perhaps we would still be watching the decision-making process for it. The second decision was about the excision of the land to create a space so that families could enjoy a green space. That space is currently just a land bowl. I note the work of the foundation. I also want to acknowledge the Perth Children's Hospital Foundation and the commentary. I want to put this on the record. I did not just make a decision to do an excision. I spoke to the chair of the foundation and asked whether he could please try to negotiate with the council. In good faith, that is what Ian sought to do. In fact, he spent, I believe, about a year on it. There was a year or thereabouts of discussions before I finally came to the decision to move to an excision. It was not, as the council claimed, just a rushed decision. I agree with the condemnation of the Nedlands council by Ian Campbell. Never have I seen a council conduct itself with so little integrity or common sense on such an important project. If members have not heard Oliver Peterson's interview with the mayor on 6PR, I would encourage them to do so, because it is diabolically one of the worst public responses I have heard by an elected official on such a serious matter. This is about a hospice, not a community fair. Mayor Fiona Argyle said, "The mayoral dog is coming. Hopefully, we can get invited to the opening. I'm going to de-flea and wash him." Just how flippant was she about a hospice? This is why I have brought this question. The mayor should be condemned. If she had any honour and integrity, she would resign. Her conduct and the conduct of that council in this whole process has been bizarre and outrageous and, ultimately, a demonstration of its integrity. It did not approach this seriously with the outcome that was intended.
I use this moment in time to put that on the record and, again, to recognise the advocates, like Barbara and all the other parents, and acknowledge the significant work of the foundation and Ian Campbell. Finally, we will get this project done. We will deliver a $4 million investment for this land to be a beautiful park that will be open to the public so that it may provide some joy and comfort to those families at that critical time.
