New-look Opposition targets Meredith Hammat over ambulance ramping as Question Time sparks a warning for MPs

New Health Minister Meredith Hammat has conceded it “will take time” to reduce record rates of ambulance ramping during a fiery question time that saw MPs warned they could be kicked out. A re-energised Opposition targeted the new Health Minister, with Liberal Leader Basil Zempilas seizing on the Australian Medical Association’s report card showing ramping is double what it was five years ago. “What are you doing differently to your predecessors to address this crisis,” he asked. Ms Hammat said there is no silver bullet solution and rattled off Labor’s election promises to reform aged care, expand virtual care and upgrade hospitals. “We have a plan, that plan will take time and no-one is saying you can fix ramping overnight,” she said. Mr Zempilas interjected: “You’ve had eight years!” and “can’t keep blaming a population increase”, as the Legislative Assembly descending into a slanging match. “So much for lifting the standards of Parliament,” Attorney-General Tony Buti yelled. Speaker Stephen Price warned both sides of politics they were treading a fine line. “Members, Attorney-General, I’ve had about enough of this,” he said. “There are other processes I have at my disposal that will lead to people leaving the chamber, though we haven’t used them in a little while . . . don’t let the Attorney-General distract you and listen to the answer.” Mr Price earlier warned Mr Zempilas he faced a “steep learning curve” after repeated interjections. “He was going to be the WA champion on Sunrise, but they worked out the people of the suburbs don’t like him,” Treasurer Rita Saffioti said. Mr Zempilas fired back: “I’m here!”. Shadow Health Minister Libby Mettam targeted Ms Hammat again, 15 minutes later, over surgery wait lists — citing the case of 15-year-old Tara who has been left waiting for cataract surgery at Perth Children’s Hospital. Her operation was delayed again, two weeks ago. “If there is a record investment in health services why is Tara, a 15-year-old girl, going blind while waiting . . . and why has your Government consistently failed to address the elective surgery wait list,” Ms Mettam said. Ms Hammat said Tara’s operation has been re-scheduled, for June, and insisted that is sometimes necessary. “I appreciate this has been difficult for the family,” she said. “From time to time elective surgeries are rescheduled because they need to make way for more urgent or pressing cases. Now this is an appropriate way to manage the health system, it means we get the best outcomes for all patients.” Labor MP’s used their own so-called Dorothy Dixer questions to attack the record of new Liberal MP’s, including Mr Zempilas over delayed plans for a new East Perth primary school. Mr Zempilas was accused of blocking the project while Perth Lord Mayor, when he demanded the State Government pay market value of about $40 million for the City-owned land. “If it was up to the Liberal Party leader inner city families would be waiting a very long time, in fact they’d probably be waiting forever,” Education Minister Sabine Winton said.