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Shadow Health Minister Mike Board has accused the State Government of gutting country hospitals. He said last week: "The Gallop Labor Government has failed to meet its pre-election commitment to 'give priority to rebuilding WA's hospitals across the State. "The government has a lack of commitment to rural health and is willing to break its promises to regional voters He listed among numerous examples: "It has broken its promise to redevelop the Derby hospital. |
"It has broken its promise to redevelop the Halls Creek and Kununurra hospitals. Mr Board said Health Minister Jim McGinty's response of 'watch this space' when asked about his commitment to these hospitals was simply not good enough. "Residents of these towns have been watching this space for nearly three years now," he said. "And all they have seen spent is a paltry seven per cent of the funding required to complete the health facilities in the Kimberley, including Derby, Halls Creek and Kununurra. |
"It is time the Health Minister realised that people in rural areas have just as much right to health services as people living in the city and got on with the job of building the health facilities he promised them he would. "Arguing about responsible budgeting does not wash with country people who see this Government wasting at least an extra $300 million unnecessarily re-routing a city rail link." |