{"id":265543,"date":"2025-11-06T02:09:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-06T02:09:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/265543\/"},"modified":"2025-11-06T02:09:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T02:09:10","slug":"wa-government-to-buy-st-john-of-god-mount-lawley-hospital-fund-major-hospital-upgrades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/265543\/","title":{"rendered":"WA government to buy St John of God Mount Lawley Hospital, fund major hospital upgrades"},"content":{"rendered":"

A $1.6 billion upgrade of Perth’s Convention and Exhibition Centre has been scrapped to free up cash for three major hospital projects, including the purchase of a private hospital in Perth’s inner suburbs.<\/p>\n

The WA government committed to the convention centre revamp last year, but on Thursday morning it announced the project would be cancelled to create a $1.5 billion hospital building fund, which includes the takeover of St John of God Mount Lawley Hospital.<\/p>\n

Premier Roger Cook said the state government could not justify the cost to taxpayers if it proceeded with the convention centre plan.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

The WA government won’t proceed with its plans to revitalise the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. (Supplied)<\/p>\n

“I refuse to compromise on major projects that will deliver better health outcomes for Western Australians,” he said in a statement.<\/p>\n

Mr Cook said the acquisition of the private facility would add up to 100 beds and eight operating theatres to the public system.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

It’s hoped the plan will add about 100 public beds to the WA hospital system (Facebook: St John of God Mount Lawley Hospital\u00a0)<\/p>\n

The government will also build a new six-story block at Royal Perth Hospital, following a review of the hospital’s redevelopment project.<\/p>\n

Two floors will be dedicated to the emergency department.<\/p>\n

Thirdly, a new hospital will be built on the Peel Health Campus site, with new beds and expanded clinical service to cater for the growing population in the area.<\/p>\n

Five-point plan to tackle ambulance ramping<\/a><\/p>\n

More aged care beds, a bolstered workforce and streamlined patient care are needed to tackle ambulance ramping in Western Australia, the health sector\u2019s unions say.<\/p>\n

The project replaces an original plan for the redevelopment of the health campus<\/a>, following a review by the Office of Major Infrastructure Delivery.<\/p>\n

Mr Cook said this would allow construction to progress faster and minimise disruption to clinical services at the hospital.<\/p>\n

“We are buying a hospital, building a hospital and upgrading a hospital,” he said.<\/p>\n

‘A good deal’<\/p>\n

Australian Medical Association of WA president Kyle Hoath said while the public sector already used some beds at St John of God’s Mount Lawley campus, it was still a “huge addition” to the sector.<\/p>\n

“This is almost exactly what we’ve been asking for, so it is a good deal,” Dr Hoath told ABC Radio Perth.<\/p>\n

“A new hospital was never just going to appear out of nowhere … this is the solution that we needed.”<\/p>\n

Treasurer and Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti said aside from the price tag, the convention centre redevelopment would have significantly impacted road and rail infrastructure around the CBD site.<\/p>\n

\"Rita<\/p>\n

WA Premier Roger Cook and Treasurer Rita Saffioti say the state government is prioritising investment in health infrastructure. (ABC News: Luke Stephenson)<\/p>\n

“It would just be too disruptive and cost too much at this point in time,” she said.<\/p>\n

“By choosing not to undertake that development it has given us the capacity to deliver excellent health infrastructure projects.”<\/p>\n

Tourism sector disappointed<\/p>\n

Tourism Council WA chief executive Evan Hall said the tourism body supported the “much-needed” investment for hospitals and health.<\/p>\n

But he said the decision to abandon the convention centre revamp was disappointing.<\/p>\n

“We are already at capacity [at the convention centre], we are losing tens of thousands of tourism and business delegates to other states every year,” he said.<\/p>\n

“Every other state has expanded their capacity in this area, because it is so lucrative for the state economy.”<\/p>\n

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