WA Premier lashes opposition for pointing out the preventative health minister is a smoker
Premier Roger Cook has defended his decision to select a smoker as the minister for preventative health, a new portfolio introduced this year to address the increasing number of people smoking, vaping and drinking alcohol excessively in WA.
Sabine Winton is overseeing the portfolio, with the opposition this morning claiming the state government was failing at its preventative health messaging.
Sabine Winton.
But Cook has labelled the comments as a “pathetic personal attack”.
“We’re significantly increasing the monitoring and regulation of tobacco product retailers, particularly vapes and illegal tobacco, with many hundreds of thousands of products confiscated under the crackdown we’ve done,” he said.
“This is a pathetic personal attack [on Winton by the opposition] and really it just underscores how difficult addiction is, particularly to nicotine.
“I’ve worked with presidents of the Australian Medical Association who are smokers, that doesn’t mean you cannot take a role in promoting healthy lives.”
Asked if the minister for preventative health should lead by example, Cook said she was appropriately overseeing policies and programs.
Artist impressions for new Perth maternity hospital revealed
The state government has revealed a first-look at what WA’s new women’s and babies hospital in Murdoch will look like, as site preparations for its construction get underway.
The 274-bed, 12-storey hospital will be built at the Fiona Stanley Hospital precinct at a site that is currently a car park.
An artist’s impression of the new Women’s and Babies Hospital, to be built in Murdoch.
The first stage of the build will be removing the asphalt and levelling the site.
In addition to the new hospital, two multi-level car parks accommodating 2500 cars will also be built.
It’s expected the hospital will open in 2029 and replace King Edward Memorial Hospital.
Health Infrastructure Minister John Carey said the first part of the development application had been approved.
“We are on schedule, we are very clear that we are committed to delivering and opening this hospital in 2029 and anyone who doubts that can just look at the site right now, earthworks are underway,” he said.
West Aussies smoking more and overweight: Report reveals shocking health trends
Smoking, vaping, illicit drug use and drinking levels have all increased among West Australians in the past two years, according to the Department of Health’s latest annual report.
Those using illicit drugs and smoking has jumped from 10 per cent of the population to 12 per cent, while the percentage of West Australians who say they’ve vaped at least once has jumped from 15 per cent to 24 per cent, despite new tough laws.
More than a third of the population is at risk of alcohol-related harm and nutrition-wise, more of us are overweight, with our diets getting worse.
Shadow health minister Libby Mettam said the 2024-25 figures showed the state government had failed to make any meaningful gains in health prevention.
“Premier Cook need look no further than his own government’s appalling record in preventative health to see why more West Australians are presenting at our hospitals,” she said.
AFL announces WA’s State of Origin coach
Former West Coast legend turned Sydney Swans coach, Dean Cox, will coach the West Australian side in the return of State of Origin next year.
The AFL, this morning, also announced the Victorian club will be coached by former two-time Geelong premiership coach, Chris Scott.
Dean Cox. Credit: Getty Images
The game is due to be held at Optus Stadium in Perth on February 14. It will be the first time an AFL State of Origin match has been played since 1999.
Each coach will soon select their squads, with players to be announced at the start of November.
Players will be picked based on their junior club location from where they were drafted.
Across the nation and around the world
Here’s what’s making headlines across the nation and around the world:
- Donald Trump says he intends to expedite the AUKUS defence pact to sell nuclear-powered submarines to Australia as Anthony Albanese received a warm welcome to the White House.
Anthony Albanese and Donald Trump shake hands after signing an $8.5 billion minerals agreement.Credit: Getty Images
Today’s weather
Welcome to our live news blog
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog for Tuesday, October 21.
Making headlines locally today, a man who was hit by the same bullet that killed Rebels bikie Nick Martin has had his police statement read to court during the trial of the alleged mastermind of the public assassination.
Ricky Chapman was 31 years old and dating Martin’s stepdaughter Stacey Schoppe when he was invited to watch the races at Kwinana Motorplex by Schoppe’s mum Amanda Martin in 2020.
Ricky Chapman in hospital following the shooting at Perth Motorplex. Credit: Nine News
Meanwhile, West Australians anglers – both commercial and recreational – face tough new restrictions as popular species along the coast plummet to “severe” levels.
A forum held with government and fishing industry representatives on Monday heard previous restrictions hadn’t been enough, with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development warning overfishing of demersal species was preventing their recovery.
Stay with us as we bring you the news of the day, as it happens.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
