Women's health centres
264. Ms Libby Mettamto theMinister for Health:
Is the minister responsible for failing to include the $14 million election commitment for women's health centres in this year's budget?
Ms Meredith Hammat replied:
I want to thank the member for the question because it gives me an opportunity to talk about our women's health centres and the valuable work they do. We on this side of the house have a lot of commitment to women's health. We are very proud of the work we are doing in women's health. We know the opposition's background on women's health, particularly when it privatised Midland Health Campus.
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Treasurer!
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Members for Vasse and Treasurer, I will call you both to order for the first time. Do not have a shouting match across the chamber when we have one of our ministers on her feet. Carry on, minister.
Ms Meredith Hammat: We are very proud of our commitments to women's health. I think that stands in stark contrast to the record of members on the other side of the house. That is why in this budget we have committed $35.9 million to Ngala for the residential eating service, included money for planning for a residential eating disorder service and made a commitment of $850,000 to the Australian Breastfeeding Association. We have also committed $14 million, phased in over four years, for women's health services in Western Australia. I am pleased to clarify that the Department of Health has advised that this commitment would require planning before that money was able to be rolled out. However, we are confident now that that planning has progressed to a point at which that funding can and should be allocated this year. There are many ways that funding can be allocated as part of the budget and we will make sure that those women's health centres will receive the funding they want.
265. Ms Libby Mettamto theMinister for Health:
I have a supplementary question.
If the minister is not responsible for the failure to include this funding in the budget, does that mean that the Treasurer should be held accountable for the missing funding?
Ms Rita Saffioti interjected.
Ms Meredith Hammat replied:
That is right. If the member had listened to the answer, she would have heard that the funding that was committed to was $14 million—
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
The Speaker: Member! Listen to the response, please.
Ms Meredith Hammat: The commitment was for $14 million, phased in over four years. We will ensure that funding is made available in this financial year.
