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Parliamentary Questions


Question On Notice No. 1163 asked in the Legislative Council on 1 December 2022 by Hon Nick Goiran

Question Directed to the: Leader of the House representing the Minister for Health
Parliament: 41 Session: 1


Question

I refer to page 37 of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Board Western Australia Annual Report 2021-22 that notes the Voluntary Assisted Dying Board recommends that ‘adequate and ongoing funding for the WA health system is provided to support the operation of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2019.’ Page 38 states, the Board also notes that ‘[i]n 2021-22, a greater number of voluntary assisted dying requests were received than expected. This has had significant impact on the demand for participating practitioners and statewide services', and I ask:
(a) what was the Government’s budget allocation for the provision of voluntary assisted dying in Western Australia in the reporting period 2021-22;
(b) what is the Government’s budget allocation for the provision of voluntary assisted dying in Western Australia in the current period 2022-23;
(c) what would be considered to be ‘adequate’ annual funding to meet the higher than expected demand for voluntary assisted dying in Western Australia;
(d) what was the Government’s budget allocation for the provision of palliative care in Western Australia in the reporting period 2021-22;
(e) 191 people accessed voluntary assisted dying in the 2021-22 reporting period. How many people accessed palliative care services in the same period;
(f) what is the Government’s budget allocation for the provision of palliative care in Western Australia in the current period 2022-23; and
(g) what would be considered to be ‘adequate’ annual funding to meet the unmet demand for palliative care in Western Australia identified in the Parliamentary Joint Select Committee on End-of-Life Choices My Life, My Choice Report (referred to on page 8 of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Board Western Australia Annual Report 2021-22) and referenced in the JSCEOLC’s Recommendations 7 to 18 of that Report?

Answered on 14 February 2023

(a)   $4,189,000

 

(b)   $4,416,000

 

(c)   WA Health is working with the VAD Board, state wide service providers and practitioners to ensure adequate funding and resources to provide high quality services and successful implementation of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2019.

 

(d)   $108,668,000

 

(e)   4,456 people accessed publicly funded inpatient palliative care services in the period 2021-22.

 

(f)    $110,858,000

 

(g)   WA Health continues to review areas of unmet need in order to appropriately fund palliative care service delivery in WA.