Jordon Steele-John (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I speak today for the increasing number of Australians who are having to endure relentless heatwaves that are increasing and impacting on their safety and wellbeing. The capacity of our hospital system to meet this increasing demand and to support them and their wellbeing is truly at the brink of breaking. The year 2024 is again our hottest year on record, and yet our government has continued to subsidise, extend and approve new fossil fuel projects. Not only does the burning of fossil fuels impact our water and food resources; air pollution from these industries now kills more people than smoking. For many people, it is increasingly making their living conditions unliveable.

Over summer, Perth has struggled through 25 days above 35 degrees, with back-to-back heatwaves breaking records again. In WA we are seeing temperatures of over 45 degrees cooking large areas of our state. The poor folks in Geraldton experienced a whopping 49.3 degrees for the second year in a row. It may be difficult for those on the ministerial benches, existing in the air-conditioned and cooled corridors of this parliament, to imagine what it is like to experience these conditions. But, for many Australians without access to aircon in their homes or in their workplaces, these summer temperatures are incredibly stressful. For those experiencing poverty or homelessness, these conditions can be downright critical. Older Australians, disabled people and those with chronic health conditions are all at risk of exacerbated health challenges. Climate hazards like heatwaves and bushfires are putting further pressure on our emergency departments and on our hospitals.

A study from Curtin University in Perth found a strong link between bushfire smoke and hospital admissions for heart and lung problems, particularly in disadvantaged areas and those who are at much higher risk. In December, paramedics in Perth responded to the most heat related emergency call-outs they have ever received, leading to over 1,000 hours of ambulance ramping in Perth hospitals in just one week. Our hospitals are already strained and, in many cases, over capacity. Thirty per cent of patients remain waiting in emergency eight hours after their arrival. In WA, it takes on average 14 hours for 90 per cent of people to be admitted from the ED. This is not down to a lack of compassion, skill, willingness or expertise from our excellent WA healthcare workers. They are so committed to our community. This is down to a lack of resourcing and poor decision-making from government. This situation is why the Greens have recently announced an investment of over $30 billion into local public hospitals across this nation, with $3 billion alone going to Perth and its 88 public hospitals.

I have heard from so many nurses, so many doctors and so many family members who have desperately needed health care—so many people who have needed help. They are so sick of politicians praising those in health care, praising the healthcare system and happily turning up to cut the ribbon on an ED, only to then walk away when money needs to be committed. Let's get this right. Let's fund these hospitals properly. Let's put people before private institutions.