Last week, Western Australians were reminded once again of the health crisis inflicted by the Cook Labor Government's neglect and inaction on health.
July this year saw patients spend over six and a half thousand hours ramped outside public hospitals in Western Australia. This represents the worst month for ramping in two years.
This represents hundreds of Western Australians and their families who have been left in limbo at their most desperate hour by the Cook Labor Government.
Roger Cook's response to the health crisis is an insult to Western Australians.
The Premier claims that ramping is trending down when in reality ramping has consistently been on the rise in the last 6 months. Who can forget when Roger Cook, as shadow health minister, claimed that 1000 hours of ramping was a crisis, but WA has now lived through 50 months in a row with more than 1,000 hours of ramping.
Roger Cook says he is proud of his record in health… there is nothing to be proud of.
Violent crime is out of control under the Cook Labor Government. New figures from the Western Australian Police Force confirm what Western Australians already know - they are less safe under the Cook Labor Government.
According to the figures, violent crime has increased dramatically, up 22.9% over the last four years, with the year 2023-24 being the highest on record.
Not only are Western Australians less safe under the Cook Labor Government, but they are also less protected. In the same four-year period, the rate of sworn officers to the population has declined, meaning our police force is not properly equipped to protect our community.
This coincides with the broken promise by Police Minister Paul Papalia to recruit an extra 950 police officers above attrition by mid-2024.
The Cook Labor Government is soft on crime, meaning police are not equipped to protect the West Australian community, leaving families and business at the mercy of violent criminals.
Recently, I had the opportunity to travel to Carnarvon to meet with locals, community leaders and business owners alongside Merome Beard MLA.
We know that regional Western Australia has been let down by the Cook Labor Government. Whether it was the botched Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act, the shutting down of Horizontal falls, the failure to advocate for our sheep farmers or record levels of violent crime, our regions have been ignored and taken for granted for too long.
Sadly, Carnarvon is no exception. The Cook Labor Government has disgracefully gutted the midwife services, this is a devastating move which will see the mothers have to travel to either Geraldton or Perth to give birth to their babies.
Whether it was going to the races, watching the footy or visiting local businesses, it is clear that the people of the Mid West deserve a local, hardworking and effective member of parliament and in Mem Beard they will have just that.
WA deserves better!
