The Cook government has announced a new $50 million health infrastructure maintenance fund, amid mounting pressures on the West Australian public hospital system.
Premier Roger Cook fronted a press conference on Monday afternoon promising a “significant health announcement”, flanked by two of his ministers.
The government spent the past week defending its record on health, particularly around a range of issues at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, which is reportedly falling apart.
Taking the pulse of WA’s health system
Mr Cook said he had also requested an audit of hospital infrastructure, to be led by two of the state’s most experienced public servants, Under Treasurer Michael Barnes and former health director general Neale Fong.
“We acknowledge that we need to do more to make sure our aging hospital infrastructure gets the maintenance and care that it needs,” Mr Cook said.
The $50 million infrastructure fund, to be spent over the next two years, will primarily focus on Royal Perth, Sir Charles Gairdner and Armadale hospitals.
Health Infrastructure Minister John Carey said the government was already spending $271 million on maintenance this year.
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“The review and audit will inform future decisions. But this is a start,” he said.
“We’ve got a lot of older hospitals. It is a big body of work.
“Some of these works will be immediate. Others will require engineering advice and assistance, but we’re committed to getting it done.”
Opposition digs in
Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas launched a scathing attack on the government after the announcement, accusing it of arrogance and refusing to take problems within the system seriously.
“We called for an audit last week, we called for urgent funding last week, we were ridiculed, waved away and met with a total lack of humility from the premier, he didn’t want to know about it,” Mr Zempilas said.
Liberal leader Basil Zempilas and health spokeswoman Libby Mettam. (ABC News: Sarmara D’Monte)
“The $50 million is welcome, the audit is welcome — but that does nothing to address the issues of record ambulance ramping, and it does nothing to address many of the other issues and failings that we are seeing from this state government in regards to the management of the health system in Western Australia.
“We have world class health workers, but again it’s being demonstrated we do not have a world class health system.
“Why was it that they didn’t address these fundamental issues last week when they were being raised very, very publicly?
The West Australian newspaper has had multiple front page stories about WA’s health system. (ABC News: Keane Bourke)
“Suddenly, after a weekend to think about things, they’ve decided this urgent action is required, well that’s interesting isn’t it? Where was this last week?”
The Opposition’s health spokesperson Libby Mettam said the government had been “dragged kicking and screaming” to this commitment.
Mr Cook defended his government’s handling of the health system, and said Monday’s announcements were possible because of Labor’s handling of the state economy.
“There’s no other place in the world you would want to be than in our hospital system if you have a need for urgent medical attention,” he said.
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Australian Medical Association WA president Dr Kyle Hoath said $50 million was a great start.
“$50 million isn’t going to solve the whole problem, but it is action, it is showing an intent to deal with the problem,” he said.
“My expectation … is that this will undoubtedly lead to uncovering more things that need fixing, and I only imagine can lead to further spend.”
What is the government spending on?
According to the government’s own budget papers, the extra $50 million is little more than 0.13 per cent of the government’s current and projected spending on infrastructure.
The Cook government has set aside $38 billion to pay for its asset investment program over the four years to 2029.
That includes:
Utility infrastructure ($13.3 billion)Road, rail and transport projects ($10.7 billion)Public and affordable housing and land development ($4 billion)Health infrastructure ($3.2 billion)Ports ($1.7 billion)Education projects ($1.7 billion)
The 2025-26 budget already included $1.4 billion in additional spending in the health and mental health system, including $98 million to expand the aging Royal Perth Hospital emergency department.
An extra $33 million has already been tipped into ongoing projects including the Bunbury Hospital redevelopment project and an upgrade to the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital intensive care unit project.
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