State Government yet to confirm if funding for Geraldton RFDS base will be included in next month's Budget
The State Government is remaining coy about funding for a Geraldton base for the Royal Flying Doctor Service in its upcoming Budget.
One of Labor's commitments ahead of the State election was to provide $7.5 million for a local RFDS base, which at the time was estimated to be about half the required amount to deliver the facility.
In Parliament on Tuesday, Geraldton MLA Kirrilee Warr put the question to Health Minister Meredith Hammat, asking what the status of the project was, whether the minister was aware of the cost, and why the Government was 'short-changing this critically important regional health facility'.
In response, Ms Hammat acknowledged it was an important election commitment, but said the details would be revealed in next month's State Budget.
'All of our election commitments are subject to the budget process,' she said.
'The Budget will be handed down in this place in June and we will have more to say about it then.'
When asked if the full amount would be delivered as part of the Budget, Ms Hammat said the State Government was proud of the commitment to deliver, but needed to respect the budget process.
Ms Warr urged the State Government to provide a clear update on the project.
'While the health minister hides behind the State Budget process, other ministers have already started promoting election commitments, such as the country week assistance program and the new Burswood Park entertainment precinct, well in advance of the Budget,' Ms Warr said.
'Ever since the election campaign ended, it appears WA Labor no longer views the RFDS base in Geraldton as a priority, despite the urgent need for this project.'
Ms Hammat has been contacted for further comment.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
2 hours ago
- West Australian
WA taxpayers are propping up the country to the tune of nearly $40 billion each year
New figures revealing WA's huge contribution to the national Budget should boost the State's campaign to shore up its share of the GST, ahead of a major review next year. Treasury analysis compared taxes paid by WA workers and businesses with Federal Government spending in WA — finding a whopping gap of $39 billion. That's an extraordinary $13,300 per person, according to fresh figures buried deep in Thursday's State Budget papers. And the figure has been increasing rapidly, doubling over just five years. The numbers — which also factor in the GST redistribution — demonstrate WA is punching well above its weight, propping up Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers' national Budget and contributing more in net terms than any other State. Almost every other State effectively relies on WA taxpayers to help fund their services. 'Our contribution to the nation's finances and economy goes well beyond the GST,' Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA chief economist Aaron Morey said. 'This (data) accounts for corporate tax receipts in particular that are flowing into the Federal coffers. It's a reminder that in terms of the Federal financial relationship — the Commonwealth and States — it is a much bigger issue than just the GST.' Revelations of tax gap come as WA Treasurer Rita Saffioti, pictured, braces for an onslaught of east coast politicians keen to get their hands on more GST cash from the west. A 2018 deal set a floor on WA's share of the GST distribution but the policy is up for review by the Productivity Commission next year. Even with that backstop in place, Treasury reckons about $2.9b a year is redistributed through the GST. But a further $26.7b — nearly 10 times more — is taken through company tax and spent interstate. Ms Saffioti called on the Productivity Commission to 'take this broader data into account as part of their review next year'. 'The Federal Budget takes the lion's share of the wealth created in this State,' she said, pointing to the Treasury analysis showing $39b more goes from WA to the Commonwealth Budget than is returned to the State. 'If you don't support a successful WA, the whole nation is penalised.' NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey last week reportedly moved to reignite the fight over the GST deal, claiming the agreement was 'ridiculous'. That's despite NSW receiving about $377 more per person than WA under the latest round of funding. Mr Morey said the Federal Government should be considering the tax imbalance when making spending decisions. 'WA is absolutely within its rights, and standing on very solid ground, when it makes the case that we over-contribute on the revenue side and don't get a fair share when it comes to distribution,' he said.
West Australian
a day ago
- West Australian
‘Putting lives at risk': Slim budget allocation sets back dire hospital developments
The State Budget contained just $10 million to revamp emergency departments at Royal Perth Hospital and Midland Hospital, prompting fears the projects won't be delivered for years. Both the Opposition and the Australian Medical Association have raised concerns about when these projects — promised at the recent State election — will happen, saying the Perth health system needs help now. AMA WA president Dr Michael Page said the health system needed thousands more beds — and could not afford to wait years for upgrades to the emergency departments at both hospitals. 'It (having only $5m allocated for each project) would indicate that they are not planning to do any building work within the next 12 months, and that's concerning,' Dr Page said. 'For all the talk of these projects going some way towards addressing the stress that the health system is under, even if that is a questionable proposition, if no building is going to commence in the next 12 months then when are we looking at any improvement in health system performance? 'It's years away when the problem is right now. There is an urgency with the public health system that is not being addressed.' The $104m upgrade at RPH and the $105m upgrade at Midland Hospital were both lauded by Labor in the lead up to the March election. Opposition health spokesperson Libby Mettam said it was particularly galling that Labor's $217m racetrack and entertainment precinct at Burswood had been fully funded in Thursday's State Budget. 'Labor's misplaced priorities are putting lives at risk,' Ms Mettam said. 'There can be no clearer message to the people of Western Australia about the priorities of the Premier and his Government. 'These promised expansions were already a desperate catch-up for a system under extreme pressure, now they have effectively been kicked down the road until who knows when. 'Ambulance ramping at our emergency departments last month was the worst ever on record for May, at a time when doctors are warning of a severe flu season in the months ahead. 'Every time the Premier or minister stands in Parliament they are effectively turning their backs on the many Western Australians who have had to wait hours in an ambulance for admission to ED or has been treated on a trolley in the corridor or has made the uncomfortable decision to leave an ED without treatment because the wait is too long.' A spokesperson said on Saturday the Cook Government was investing $3.2 billion into health infrastructure over the next four years. This included money to undertake the detailed planning for the Royal Perth and Midland emergency department expansions. 'We're already in the process of establishing teams who will work within the new Office of Major Infrastructure to deliver the two emergency department expansions,' the spokesperson said. 'The reason we held an early Budget, was so we could get on with delivering key commitments like expanding the emergency departments at Royal Perth and Midland, to cater for our growing population. 'These are complex projects that are undertaken while hospitals remain operational, and cannot occur without detailed planning work happening first. 'We need to ensure we get it right, and planning was always going to be the first priority.'
West Australian
a day ago
- West Australian
Budget cash splash hopes to fix flammable cladding problems at Perth's biggest hospitals
Six years after the State Government said it would start replacing flammable cladding at some of Perth's major hospitals, the government has quietly allocated another $28 million for remediation works at Perth Children's Hospital. It's in addition to the $33.3m announced in the government's mid-year review to replace the dangerous cladding at the Fiona Stanley Hospital B block, which houses its main medical wards. Taxpayers were expected to foot a $41m bill to remove the cladding according to last year's budget figures, but that number is now expected to balloon even further. Non-compliant aluminium composite panel cladding has been under intense scrutiny since the Grenfell Tower blaze in London claimed the lives of 72 people in 2017. Figures in Thursday's State Budget reveal WA Health has not only budgeted another $33.3m to address the problem panels at FSH, but that the works on B block are expected to take until at least the 2028-29 financial year to fix — more than 10 years on from the London inferno. Budget papers also revealed the works already in progress at FSH are set to cost $15.6m, bringing the total cost at the main southern suburbs hospital to $48.9m. The health department will add the PCH remediation to its portfolio of cladding works to manage, after testing in 2023 confirmed the city's only paediatric hospital was also at risk. The latest Building and Energy report on remediation efforts revealed of the nine Department of Health buildings requiring remedial action, five had been completed. A State Government spokesman confirmed works were already underway at FSH, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre and Joondalup Health Campus. 'This is a program of works across multiple buildings in a 24/7 live hospital environment,' the spokesman said. 'Works must be staged and scheduled to avoid impact on patients and service delivery.' A government contract for the QEII works reveals the Cancer Centre, the Sarich Neuroscience Research Institute, and the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital mental health unit are among the affected buildings.
