Media Release | 17 June 2025
Libby Mettam
Shadow Minister for Health
Liam Staltari
Shadow Minister for Education
The Cook Labor Government is failing some of the state’s most vulnerable children with years-long waiting lists for treatment of developmental disorders.
Shadow Health Minister Libby Mettam said the consequences of delayed treatment for children with these disorders was potentially life altering.
“It’s nothing short of cruel for parents to be left watching their children fall behind at school, struggle to socialise and develop related behavioural problems while waiting years for treatment,” she said.
“It’s simply not good enough for the Government to say it appreciates the frustration and challenges parents face.”
“These children need help before their health problems compound and leave them at a life-long disadvantage.”
Ms Mettam highlighted the case of Zhia Soo who has been told her nine-year-old son faces a wait of at least 42 months to see a paediatrician after being referred by a GP for assessment for possible autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
“The government’s only defence is that the average wait time is 22.8 months, which it seems to think is acceptable,” she said.
In Parliament today the Minister for Health said she was “proud” of her government’s record in treating children with developmental disorders.
“Minister, an almost two-year wait is not acceptable in a state as wealthy as ours and is definitely not something to be proud of.”
Shadow Education Minister Liam Staltari said it was little wonder WA was seeing a major spike in the rate of “developmentally vulnerable” children when parents were reporting wait times of up to 42 months to see a developmental paediatrician.
“Under this Labor Government, the proportion of developmentally vulnerable West Australian children starting school has increased nearly 25 per cent in just six years – as revealed in the stark recent figures of the Australian Early Development Census,” he said.
“In eight years, Labor has added just one new Child and Parent Centre to the 21 operated by the previous Coalition Government.”
“In addition to Child Development Services, these centres are essential for providing early learning programs, maternal and child health services, and child support activities.”
“Labor has neglected parents and children by failing to properly invest in early childhood health and learning services.”
ENDS
Media Contact: Marty Lake 0405 068 590
