Mettam vows to run WA and its health system at same time if elected premier

Liberal leader Libby Mettam says she could handle the dual responsibilities of premier and health minister if elected to government on March 8.

On Sunday, Mettam – who is also the WA Liberals’ health spokeswoman – said retaining the portfolio would show the public how seriously her party took fixing Labor’s mess, which she said had resulted in record ambulance ramping and blown out elective surgery wait times.

WA Liberals leader Libby Mettam and Premier Roger Cook.Credit: Trevor Collens

But Premier Roger Cook – who held the health portfolio for Labor until 2021 – scoffed at the plan on Monday, declaring the idea Mettam could lead WA and its health system at the same time as fanciful.

“This is the clearest indication yet that WA Liberals do not have the experience, they have not done the work, and they are not fit for government,” he said.

“Different portfolios have got different challenges, but I can tell you, from experience, health is the most challenging portfolio. It demands your attention every moment of the day.

“It is the largest health jurisdiction in the world –that takes time, that takes effort, and that takes application. You can’t lead the state and lead a complex health system.”

WA Health is the biggest area of government spending and, with more than 40,000 employees, has the biggest public sector workforce in the state, alongside the Department of Education.

But Mettam fired back at Cook on Monday, and maintained that taking on both portfolios highlighted the importance of health.

“Sharing [health] with the role of premier is about underlying the fact that this is a significant portfolio, this is of significant importance to the state, and there are critical issues that need fixing in this area,” she said.

“This is sending a strong message to the people of Western Australia that we will put your health first, and unlike Labor, we will address this as a key priority in addition to keeping our community safe, addressing cost of living pressures and building more homes.”

Mettam claimed it was rich of Cook to criticise her after he “begged” McGowan to take the portfolio off him in 2021.

“This is a premier who does not care or prioritise health, and it is extraordinary to hear such comments from a failed health minister who begged Mark McGowan to be able to take on a different portfolio,” she said.

The jab referred to a cabinet reshuffle in 2021, where Cook was looking to move on from health after a gruelling period during the COVID pandemic and years before that spent as Labor’s opposition health spokesman.

WA premiers have a history of taking on big portfolios alongside their leadership duties, including former premier Mark McGowan, who ran the state while also assuming treasurer duties after former treasurer Ben Wyatt left.

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