Cook Government Fails Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital

Media Release | 12 August 2025
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Basil Zempilas MLA
Leader of the Opposition
Libby Mettam MLA
Shadow Minister for Health

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Revelations of seeping radioactive waste, black mould, and sewage leaks at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital is further proof that Western Australia’s health system is in a state of catastrophic failure.

Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas said Premier Roger Cook should be ashamed of the deteriorating condition of one of Western Australia’s biggest public hospitals.

“Despite what Premier Roger Cook claims, the sad truth is Western Australia does not have a world class health system. It is a world class embarrassment,” he said.

“He needs to drop everything else and make health his number one priority.

“There is nothing more important and no more fundamental responsibility of any Government than the care of sick, injured and dying West Australians.”

Mr Zempilas called on the Cook Government to commit the $217 million allocated to the Burswood racetrack to fixing the decay at ‘Charlies’.

“The Premier needs to stand up and explain how he is going to immediately fix these issues and ensure the safety of patients and hospital workers,” he said.

Shadow Health Minister Libby Mettam said the litany of failures at ‘Charlies’ outlined in this morning’s West Australian newspaper shredded any credibility Premier Cook had in declaring Western Australia’s health system “world class”.

She said in recent months record ambulance ramping, regular code yellows, outdated medical equipment, widespread health worker discontent, Australia-worst hospital ED wait-times and two year plus wait times for kids to get into see a paediatrician had all been revealed.

“The public can only draw one conclusion – health is clearly not a priority for the Cook Government,” she said.

“For more than eight years the Cook Government has underinvested and failed to plan for the future in health. The shocking revelations of the state of decay at ‘Charlies’ is a
result of this.

“The Cook Government is now spending $34 million less on maintenance and repairs across the Metropolitan Health Service, which includes ‘Charlies’, than nine years ago.

“Their failures in health are endangering the lives of West Australians.”

ENDS
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