A scathing independent audit has forced the Western Australian Government into an embarrassing about-face, confirming widespread disrepair and hundreds of leaks at a major Perth hospital that put patient and staff safety at risk.
From Denial to Damning Evidence
The Cook Government has been compelled to act after the "frank and fearless" findings of a snap audit into Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital were made public. This comes just five months after the government initially dismissed The West Australian's 'Hospital of Horrors' investigation with what it now admits were bare-faced denials.
In August 2025, Premier Roger Cook accused critics, including Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas, of mounting a scare campaign. "Don't go to hospital, don't go to hospital, scaring West Australians," Mr Cook told Parliament at the time, insisting the public could have confidence in the system.
Health Infrastructure Minister John Carey similarly downplayed the reports, arguing that 592 work orders raised between January 2023 and June 2025 for issues like leaks and mould were often duplicates and reflected proactive reporting by staff.
A System in Chronic Disrepair
The newly released audit, handed to the government in November but only made public this week, paints a starkly different picture. It reveals there was nothing proactive about the maintenance systems in place at the hospital.
The report details a litany of failures, validating the concerns of doctors and nurses who had repeatedly filed maintenance requests for serious issues, including mushrooms growing on ceilings, only to receive band-aid solutions. The government's past insistence that WA's health system is "world class" has now been quietly retired, described as an insult to frontline staff.
Hundreds of leaks are reported at the hospital each year, creating ongoing safety hazards. The audit confirmed that the much-discussed radioactive waste leak, previously denied by the government, was indeed a matter of serious concern.
Political Fallout and a $50 Million Promise
The political response to the audit's release has drawn scrutiny. Both Premier Cook and Health Minister were absent from the media conference announcing the findings, having fronted happier health announcements earlier in the week. The head of the Health Department only grudgingly conceded she "perhaps" could have done more to raise the alarm sooner.
Minister John Carey was left to "cop it on the chin," refusing to blame past ministers or bureaucrats and declaring the buck stopped with him. "I like crazy brave," was the reaction from AMA President Kyle Hoath to Mr Carey's stance.
The government now promises a $50 million maintenance blitz to be completed by September, alongside a systemic overhaul to prevent the backlog from worsening again. The success of this urgent repair plan will determine whether the public can forgive the initial denials and delayed action.
The State Opposition has vowed to hold the government accountable, ensuring the political medicine for this failure remains bitter and ongoing. The audit has laid bare a critical problem; the pressure is now on the government to prove its cure is effective.
