The Opposition has continued their call for the State of Emergency to end, as the McGowan Labor Government’s rushed legislation entrenches the same powers for another two years. Opposition Leader Mia Davies said the Emergency Management Amendment (Temporary COVID19 Provisions) Bill 2022 introduced and rammed through Parliament in less than 24 hours on Wednesday, failed…
Progress on the McGowan Government’s signature election promise for Geraldton, the redevelopment of the Geraldton Health Campus, appears to have hit another roadblock. Shadow Minister for Regional Heath Martin Aldridge MLC said despite the State Government allocating an extra $49.4 million towards the project in the State Budget, the procurement process did not appear to…
Shadow Minister for Emergency Services Martin Aldridge MLC has called on the Government to commit to an independent inquiry into the controversial G2G pass system. Mr Aldridge said remarks made by the Premier in Parliament called into question the fairness and integrity of the G2G system and prompted the need for a review. “The Premier…
Volunteering has long been a major part of Australian community and culture – but as barriers to volunteering grow it is necessary for the State Government to consider innovative ideas to attract and retain our considerable volunteer workforce. The latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that despite WA’s population growing from 2.5…
The Opposition has renewed calls for the McGowan Labor Government to guarantee long-awaited answers for communities still dealing with the impact of Tropical Cyclone Seroja (TCS), 16 months on from the disaster. Member for Moore Shane Love used Parliament this week to plead for continued support on behalf of the impacted towns about what will…
The Opposition has raised concerns around access to emergency service facilities including volunteers and staff after repeated requests were rejected by the Emergency Services Minister. Opposition Leader Mia Davies said multiple attempts to meet with emergency service personnel or visit Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) facilities in Dongara, Geraldton and Esperance had been…
Shadow Regional Health Minister Martin Aldridge has condemned the State Labor Government’s ongoing neglect of the health system after it was confirmed over 500 vacancies exist for essential frontline health workers. Answers provided by the Health Minister this week revealed the WA health system was short 102 midwives, 82 theatre nurses, and 349 junior doctors…
Shadow Minister for Emergency Services Martin Aldridge MLC has called for the State Government to establish dedicated leave arrangements for recognised emergency service volunteers working in the public sector. While Federal public service employees were made eligible for up to 20 days paid leave to respond to emergencies following the devastating Black Summer bushfires in…
The Minister for Health has told State Parliament a long-awaited Geraldton radiation oncology unit won’t proceed unless the Federal Government pays for it. Shadow Minister for Regional Health Martin Aldridge MLC said it was disappointing that a State Government with a $5.7 billion budget surplus was refusing to match Federal funding for the potentially life-saving…
The Opposition has called on the State Government to address the chronic shortage of midwives in regional WA forcing families to travel hundreds of kilometres to give birth. Opposition Leader Mia Davies said the latest initiative by the McGowan Labor Government – a recruitment campaign targeting retired midwives – was a stopgap solution at best.…