HEALTH SERVICES — REGIONS
381. Ms D.G. D'ANNA to the Premier:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's significant investment in health services throughout
regional Western Australia.
(1) Can the
Premier advise the house how the McGowan Labor government is expanding the
capacity of health services in regional Western Australia and outline how these
services will assist vulnerable and disadvantaged patients to access
high-quality healthcare services?
(2) Can the Premier advise the house
whether he is aware of any threats to regional people's health?
Mr M.
McGOWAN replied:
(1) I thank the
member for Kimberley for the question and all her advocacy for her electorate.
On Sunday, we announced a $1.9 billion boost
to health and mental health spending in the coming budget and we also confirmed
massive improvements in capital works for hospitals and health services around Western
Australia. This will be hundreds of additional beds, hundreds of extra nurses
and at least 100 extra doctors, as well as a significant investment in mental
health. We will make sure that the regions receive their fair share as well,
particularly to assist vulnerable and disadvantaged patients.
Just to name a few of the services
that will be improved, expanded or created as part of this, we have allocated
$2.8 million to expand women's community health services in the
Kimberley; $15.7 million to begin
construction of the new consolidated health service in Meekatharra; $10.9 million
for the Royal Flying Doctor Service to refurbish and replace aircraft
engines on some of its aircraft; $1.8 million to employ a permanent GP for cervical cancer at the Goldfields Women's
Health Care Centre; $2.2 million to establish a women's community health service in the Peel region; $17.6 million
towards social and emotional wellbeing
services for Aboriginal people in regional WA; $14.8 million for a step-up,
step-down mental health facility in South Hedland; and $19.7 million to expand
the eligibility of the patient assisted travel scheme for patient support
escorts and others, as well as for maternity patients all over regional WA. All
that is on top of the rebuilds or new
hospitals in Newman, Tom Price, Laverton, Geraldton, Bunbury, Peel and other
places around regional WA.
That is a massive investment in regional health as part of the upcoming state
budget.
(2) In terms of
threats to the health of Western Australians, I know that regional people in
particular, and Aboriginal people most especially, are very vulnerable to
pandemics, as was shown 100 years ago with the Spanish flu. Aboriginal people
and regional people in Western Australia are vulnerable to the COVID pandemic.
I am very pleased that the Prime Minister has supported Western Australia in
its latest fight with Mr Clive Palmer and his efforts to undermine the
vaccination program in Western Australia. The Prime
Minister has backed us, and, of course, regional people are very vulnerable to
what Mr Palmer is saying, in particular Aboriginal people. It is actually
deranged, insane and dangerous what Mr Palmer is doing. He has picked Western Australia
to challenge our vaccination program. He is a Queenslander with limited
interest in this state and he has
decided to challenge our vaccination program here with a view to stopping the
rollout in Western Australia. It is a
deranged approach. If he is successful in any way—even in an injunction
to delay the rollout—it would
be very damaging to the health of all Western Australians. I urge him now to
stop.