THE long-promised expansion of Midland Hospital will not be complete until after 2030, with the federal government allocation of funding falling $40 million short of what was promised during the election campaign, claims Guildford-based MLC Anthony Spagnolo.

“The funding shortfall means Midland families face years more waiting for critical health infrastructure as pressure on the local hospital system continues to grow,” Mr Spagnolo said.

Hasluck MP Tania Lawrence rejected Mr Spagnolo’s claims.

“The entire $200m federal funding commitment has been provisioned for in the (federal) Budget.  Mr Spagnolo is incorrect in his comment claiming a $40m funding shortfall,” she said.

“I expect he took the information from a wrongly reported article by The West which was subsequently corrected.  The funds are being provided over the forward estimates, including the out year, in accordance with the request by the West Australian government.”

Mr Spagnolo maintained the delay was deeply disappointing for families across Midland, the eastern suburbs, the Perth Hills and the Wheatbelt, communities already experiencing strain on local health services.

“The local community is once again being asked to wait for health services it desperately needs,” Mr Spagnolo said.

“People are already experiencing the pressure on Midland Hospital, through ambulance ramping, longer wait times and the strain placed on frontline health workers.

Mr Spagnolo said Midland MLA Steve Catania needed to explain why the community was being asked to settle for less than what was promised.

“They were quick to promote this project during the election campaign, but the reality is the expansion will not be completed until after 2030,” he said.

Mr Catania said as the state member for Midland he was very proud of the commitment WA Labor has made to expand Midland Hospital.

“The redevelopment of the St John of God Midland Public Hospital will expand capacity to meet the needs of patients in Perth’s growing eastern suburbs and the wider Wheatbelt region.

“We are continuing with detailed planning for this project and construction is expected to start next year.

“The attempts by Anthony Spagnolo and the Liberals to feign concern for the eastern suburbs on this project is truly astonishing.

“Neither the state nor federal Liberal parties made a single commitment to improve Midland Hospital when they had the opportunity at the 2025 elections.

“An additional 60 beds and three surgical theatres at St John of God Midland will also transition to the public health system in August,” Mr Catania said.

Mr Spagnolo said the Midland Hospital delay was compounded by the continued lack of radiation oncology services in the local area, forcing cancer patients to travel across Perth for treatment.

“Cancer patients in Midland and surrounding communities are still being forced to travel across the city for radiation treatment,” he said.

“For people already dealing with the physical and emotional toll of cancer, that travel places even more pressure on patients and families.”

Mr Spagnolo said a petition led with Kalamunda MLA Adam Hort calling for radiation oncology services in Midland had attracted more than 2400 signatures and been formally tabled in the Legislative Council.

“That level of community support shows just how strongly local families feel about this issue.  People are not asking for special treatment — they are asking for fair access to essential healthcare closer to home,” he said.

Mr Spagnolo said Midland’s growing population deserved timely investment in health infrastructure, not repeated announcements and delayed delivery.

“Health services must keep pace with population growth, and in Midland that simply has not happened,” he said.

“These problems will not solve themselves, and the community deserves a clear plan and real delivery.”