· No progress on health and human services in 11 years under Labor
· Hospital waiting lists up 31.6 percent since Labor took office
· Public housing waiting list up 153%
Labor’s health and human services progress report is a misnomer because there has been no progress in the 11 long years it has been in government.
Hospital waiting lists are up 31.6% since Labor took office in 1998.
Waiting lists for dentures has shot through the roof, with 2449 now waiting compared to 531 in 2006 – an increase of 361%, and waiting lists for general dental care are up by 22%.
Those waiting for public housing has again increased to 3162, up from 1248 when Labor took office 11 years ago. That’s an increase of 153%, and the average waiting time for category 1 (those who are homeless) is now approaching half a year.
There have been 31.9% more children coming into care through neglect and abuse, although notifications have decreased significantly. This would seem to indicate that the notifications are more serious and resulting in children being removed.
And for disability services, waiting lists for supported accommodation – and only those in urgent need are kept – has increased by 38.7%.
The State Labor Government is failing those most vulnerable – the sick, the disabled, the homeless. It is time for change.
Brett Whiteley MP Shadow Minister for Health and Human Services
