Yanchep hospital proposal: Doctors back Basil Zempilas’ push for second $600 million hospital in Perth’s north

Doctors have called for bi-partisan support of Basil Zempilas’ pledge to build a new hospital in Yanchep, but the Cook Government is so far refusing to set a timeline. The Opposition Leader has vowed to start construction in his first term, if elected Premier in 2029. “Initially this would be stage one of the Yanchep campus, a health campus that can expand as the needs of this growing corridor grow,” he said. He’s estimated a 250-bed hospital near Yanchep train station would cost $600 million, and also promised to spend $250 million upgrading Joondalup Hospital to a tertiary facility. Mr Zempilas wouldn’t say if cuts will be needed elsewhere to pay for it. “We will have to prioritise our spending,” he told The West’s Leadership Matters breakfast. “This government has had the money, but they’ve made the wrong priority.” Yanchep local Margaret O’Keefe, aged 85, was in the audience and applauded. She described spending 12 hours in a wheelchair in Joondalup’s ED — 27 kilometres away — because there were no spare beds. “Some had been there for 14 hours,” she said. “We need that hospital that was promised. It has to start now, so stir, stir, because I’m not sitting quietly . . . I’m going to fight for it. “As my doctor in the hospital said, Margaret, your hands will still be coming out of that coffin saying, I haven’t finished yet. I haven’t finished yet. So please don’t give up, fight for what’s right, and this Government isn’t right.” Australian Medical Association WA President Kyle Hoath said growing demand in Perth’s northern corridor requires action sooner rather than later. He’s called for the major parties to join forces. “We know we’re at least one hospital shy of where we need to be, so of course we welcome seeing both sides starting to see why health needs to be prioritised,” Dr Hoath said. “I don’t want a bidding war, but what I want is a co-ordinated partnership approach towards where our hospitals should be placed.” Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti agreed Yanchep will need a hospital, but repeatedly refused to say when. “Yanchep will be getting a hospital, of course, but we have to do that work, and we’re undertaking some initial planning, and planning for all of our growing suburbs,” she told reporters on Monday. “We’ll be undertaking planning, and any future announcements I’ll leave for that time.” She denied Yanchep has been left behind. “We’ve delivered a train line, and we’ve delivered some significant road upgrades,” Ms Saffioti said. “The Liberal Party, National Party, only a few weeks ago in Parliament said there weren’t enough people to substantiate a train station.” Senior ministers were also quick to reject the Liberal Leader’s plan for 8am Sunday trading, and 24-hour shopping on Black Friday. Mr Zempilas said it’s about giving business owners the choice. “Every other state does it. Why can’t they?” he said. Police Minister Reece Whitby insisted there’s no public appetite for longer opening hours. “I don’t see people marching in the street demanding the right to buy a fridge at 8 o’clock on a Sunday morning, I just don’t see it,” he said. On the same morning Mr Zempilas pledged to create a “transparency accountability framework” for taxpayer-funded events, Mr Whitby shared more details - but not public costs - about next year’s SailGP event in Fremantle. He revealed the event will have a 35 per cent increased crowd capacity and will take place on February 20 and 21. But he refused to say how much it will cost taxpayers to secure the three-year deal for the event. “It would be like going to a home open and announcing to everyone present what you want to pay for that house,” he said. “You won’t get the house because someone would know what offer to put in to get it from you, it is a crazy suggestion that says you reveal what you’re prepared to pay for a major event.”