Cook Government slammed for falling health stats despite having five health-related ministers

The State Opposition has slammed the effectiveness of the Cook Government’s preventative health programs, and five ministers responsible for health issues, amid new data showing key outcomes were sliding in WA.

Shadow health minister Libby Mettam on Wednesday that the “appalling health outcomes”, revealed by The West Australian on Wednesday, showed the “real cost of living under the Cook Labor Government, with too many West Australians paying the price through their health”.

“All of this is happening under a Government with five health ministers — proof that more ministers doesn’t mean better health outcomes,” she said.

The latest surveillance data, contained in WA Health report, showed that just one third of WA adults met the recommended daily intake of two serves of fruit per day, while less than 5 per cent are managing to eat five serves of vegetables.

Another headline figure showed how the cost of living crisis was hitting more families, with the rate of adults who reported running out of food and being unable to afford more jumping from 6.6 per cent in 2023 to 8.4 per cent.

Younger women fared worst, with 13 per cent of females aged 16 to 44 reporting they were too broke to eat at some point in the past 12 months.

Screen time increased for adults, while physical activity fell — and almost half of all adults surveyed reported spending most of their day sitting down.

Across all respondents, smoking rates rose, although vaping rates went down.

The disheartening statistics prompted concerns about the the impact cost of living pressures where having on West Australian’s physical health.

It’s also having an affect on their mental health. The data shows that one in four adults have been told by a doctor that they have a mental health condition in the past 12 months, and one in six have experienced a high or very high levels of psychological distress.

The Government has five Ministers managing health-related porfolios, after Wanneroo MP Sabine Winton was appointed as the State’s first Preventative Health Minister early last year.

The roll-call also includes Health and Mental Health Minister Meredith Hammat, Health Infrastructure Minister John Carey, Aged Care and Seniors Minister Simone McGurk and Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson.

Ms Mettam said the Government needed to move faster on improving funding for preventative health programs.

“The Government trumpeted the appointment of a so-called Health Prevention Minister, yet has failed to deliver its promised five per cent commitment to prevention in the health budget,” she said.

“It’s no surprise smoking rates are rising when the Cook Labor Government has failed to introduce legislation to crack down on the illegal tobacco and vape trade.

Foodbank WA chief executive officer Kate O’Hara was unsurprised by the figures, given Foodbank had seen an exceptionally busy Christmas period, outpacing Easter — the traditional busiest day of the year.

Ms O’Hara said she wanted the five per cent funding goal achieved “yesterday”.

“There’s always a lot of demands on the State Government, and we’re very fortunate that they’re putting so much into the school’s breakfast program,” she said.

“We’re very, very much progressing with the department on making sure more kids in school can get access to breakfast.

“But those kids still need lunch, and what happens when school’s not on? This is where we see the hardship coming on, so the care sector is ready and willing.”

Responding to the report, the Cook Government insisted it was committed to boosting the health and wellbeing of Western Australians, but pointed mostly to programs that targeted children.

“More schools have been invited to join the expanded school breakfast program, supported by $28 million investment,” a Government spokeswoman said.

“In 2024, Cancer Council WA was awarded $1.4m for the continuation of the Crunch&Sip nutrition education project, which aims to increase access to healthy food, encouraging healthy eating habits from an early age. Construction has also commenced on a purpose-built Foodbank facility in Dalyellup, which will improve food relief capacity for families experiencing hardship in the South West.”