Media Release | 22 June 2025
Libby Mettam
Shadow Minister for Health
More than $200 million promised by Premier Roger Cook for desperately needed expansions and upgrades to emergency departments at Royal Perth and Midland hospitals was not in last week’s Budget.
The Budget included just $5 million for planning for each project but nothing for the next four years to build the promised infrastructure.
Conversely, construction of the Cook Labor Government’s $217.5 million racetrack was fully funded in the budget.
Shadow Health Minister Libby Mettam said the Premier had promised a $104 million upgrade to the RPH ED and $104.8 million to expand the Midland Health Campus ED during the election campaign and then repeated the promise on numerous occasions in Parliament since the election.
“There can be no clearer message to the people of Western Australia about the priorities of the Premier and his government,” Ms Mettam said.
“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 been treated on a trolley in the corridor or made the uncomfortable decision to leave an ED without treatment because the wait is too long.”
Ms Mettam said not only had the Cook Government kicked funding for the ED infrastructure down the road they had reduced spending for emergency department services by $100 million in 2026-27.
“The Premier said himself that ED presentations at Midland Health Campus alone would increase by 38 per cent by 2031, so what sort of magic makes the Cook Government think they can buck the global trend and treat more people for less money?” she said.
“The decision not to fund the ED upgrades and cut ED operational funding has left the medical fraternity and health advocates stunned.
“Add to record levels of ambulance ramping, out of control elective surgery waitlists and children waiting more than three years to see a specialist and you have a health system in free fall, yet the Premier and Treasurer choose to build a racetrack and pump more billions into METRONET.
“The Premier can attempt to justify this however he likes but the reality is in black and white in the Budget papers.
“Labor’s misplaced priorities are putting lives at risk.”
ENDS
MEDIA CONTACT: Denice Rice 0417 755 17
