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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 381 asked in the Legislative Assembly on 11 August 2021 by Ms D.G. D’Anna

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

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.