The Nationals WA have welcomed the opening of the new Karratha Health Campus, a project made entirely possible by Royalties for Regions.
Deputy Leader Jacqui Boydell attended today’s opening and said the $207.15 million facility was testament to The Nationals’ aggressive regional development agenda while in Government from 2008-17.
“Mark McGowan and Kevin Michel may have cut the ribbon today but the people of Karratha know this fantastic new hospital was the result of years of hard work from The Nationals,” Ms Boydell said.
Building of the new Karratha hospital was first announced by The Nationals former Leader and Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls in 2012. The project remains the largest ever investment for a single health infrastructure project in regional WA.
Mr Grylls’ successor Terry Redman was pivotal in securing the hospital’s central Karratha location and broke ground on the project in 2014.
Ms Boydell said the McGowan Government was running out of good news projects in regional WA which had been spearheaded by The Nationals.
“The only time the Premier gets a positive news story in regional WA these days is when he unveils projects that were started by The Nationals,” Ms Boydell said.
“The Nationals utilised Royalties for Regions to drive infrastructure projects which made a genuine difference in the lives of regional West Australians.
“Under Labor, Royalties for Regions has been bastardised and reduced to an account which the Government taps to pay for things like country water subsidies.”
Health spokesperson Martin Aldridge, who toured Karratha Health Campus this week as part of The Nationals’ Pilbara Cabinet visit, said the McGowan Government was failing regional WA when it came to health.
“Under Labor we’ve seen investment in regional health slashed as the McGowan Government prioritises its pet projects in Perth,” he said.
“Hospital redevelopments at Laverton and Tom Price have stalled under Labor.
“Unfortunately we can expect more of the same as Labor’s team is dominated by Perth MPs, most of whom rarely venture beyond the Darling Scarp.”
