STATE BUDGET 2022–23 — HEALTH
255. Ms E.L. HAMILTON to the Premier:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's strong and responsible financial management that is
delivering significant funding for our health system and a world-leading
response to COVID-19.
(1) Can the
Premier outline to the house how this government's significant
investment in health infrastructure as part
of the upcoming state budget will ensure that our health system meets the needs
of Western Australians into the future?
(2) Can the
Premier outline how this government's investment will also ensure that
WA Health can continue to maintain the COVID-19 pandemic?
Mr M.
McGOWAN replied:
I thank the
member for Joondalup for the question.
(1)–(2) Health
will be a significant part of the budget on Thursday. We can invest significant
amounts in health because of our very strong
and responsible budget management over our time in office and because of the
management of the pandemic, which caused mayhem around other parts of Australia
and catastrophe in other parts of the world.
Since the last state budget, we have delivered additional beds into our health
system; 342 beds have been added to the hospital system since the budget
in September. About 190 additional beds will open by the end of this year, which
is the equivalent of a full new tertiary hospital being added to the system, basically, in 12 months. We are
investing $223.4 million in infrastructure in the 2022–23 state budget.
The total investment over four years is $1.6 billion, plus $1.8 billion for a new
women's and babies' hospital in the electorate of the
member for Nedlands. The additional investment in health infrastructure
includes intensive care unit upgrades at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, the
Albany general dental clinic, $5.9 million for a Byford health hub, and much
else all over Western Australia.
Over the course of the last two years
we aimed for and achieved a soft landing out of COVID. We avoided the worst of
the restrictions that Victoria, New South Wales and other parts of the world
have endured, but we still need to respond to COVID. Members will find that
there is $1.6 billion in COVID health and economic investment in the state
budget, which brings the total COVID spend to $11.2 billion. Having spent that,
we are still driving down debt. That spend includes the rapid antigen test
program. We are the only state in Australia
to provide free rapid antigen tests to households. We announced that we are
providing them to around 70 new locations around regional WA. We want to
make sure that people in both the city and the country have access to RATs so
that people who are COVID positive are not going to work, social gatherings,
school, or whatever it might be, which is an important health initiative for Western
Australia.
The health system of Western Australia
is obviously under a lot of stress and pressure, but it is a great system with
great people working in it, with some magnificent hospitals and the best
equipment and care in the world. It is the best funded health system per capita
of any health system in Australia.