No contract should be signed for the new Women and Babies Hospital before the next election, according to Libby Mettam, WA Liberal Leader and Shadow Health Minister.

“The next election will be a referendum on a government with the wrong priorities, including Roger Cook’s decision to shift the Women and Babies Hospital away from WA’s key health hub,” said Ms Mettam.

“Roger Cook should not commit taxpayers to funding a hospital that will risk the lives of more than 200 vulnerable babies per year before voters have had their say.

"Every other state in Australia has a tri-located hospital health precinct - Roger Cook should not be charging ahead with anything less than the gold standard every other state has seen crucial enough to deliver for its people.

“Western Australians have the right to choose whether they think doctors and clinicians should be ignored and babies’ lives put at risk, before a contract is signed.”

The WA Liberals have previously committed to tri-locating the new Women and Babies Hospital at QEII with Perth Children’s Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, rather than at Murdoch, as is global best practice.

“Building the Women and Babies Hospital anywhere but the tri-located site with PCH and Charlie’s will put the lives of mothers and babies at risk,” said Ms Mettam.

“More than 200 clinicians have raised their concerns with the Premier and the Health Minister asking for the hospital to remain at QEII, but they don’t care what our doctors think.

“Just days ago, a top doctor warned Roger Cook his decision to move the hospital would lead to newborn babies dying in avoidable circumstances.

“Roger Cook is burying his head in the sand on this, and it will lead to the preventable deaths of Western Australian babies.”

In a Letter to the Editor published in The West Australia on 6 September 2024, Dr Tim Pavy, a former Head of Anaesthesia and past chairman of the Clinical Staff Association at King Edward Memorial Hospital, warned that moving the hospital to

Murdoch would not improve outcomes for newborns and “will lead to the deaths of newborn babies.”

Ms Mettam also said it would be financially irresponsible to proceed with signing contracts before the next election.

“Don’t be financially reckless, don’t sign any contracts, go and get a mandate at the next state election.

“Let the people decide in March next year whether the Government should listen to clinicians, or if our doctors should be ignored, risking the lives of babies for no apparent reason.

“It is totally irresponsible to progress this project before the next election.”