HON ANDREW HASTIE MP

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR CANNING

SHADOW MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS

MEDIA RELEASE 

COOK BREAKS HIS OWN RAMPING RECORD, SURPASSING COVID LEVELS

5 August 2025

Federal Member for Canning Andrew Hastie MP has condemned the WA Labor Government for presiding over the worst ambulance ramping figures in the state’s history.

Ambulances were ramped for a staggering 7,009 hours in July—surpassing the previous record of 6,972 hours set during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022.

It was also revealed that an 84-year-old man waited 12 hours for urgent care—unable to get an ambulance, he called a taxi himself and was eventually placed in a police holding room at an emergency department.

Mr Hastie said it reflected a health system in crisis.  

“Western Australian families are the ones paying the price for Labor’s broken promises and misplaced priorities,” Mr Hastie said.

Mr Hastie pointed to comments made by Roger Cook in 2016, when—then serving as Shadow Health Minister—he criticised the Liberal Barnett Government’s ramping record and promised that WA Labor would “alleviate the congestion in our emergency departments”.

“Now, when confronted with the worst ramping figures on record, the Premier refuses to take any responsibility,” Mr Hastie said.

“It’s baffling that the Premier can look at these numbers and still claim everything is fine.”

Mr Hastie called on the WA Government to urgently invest in health infrastructure before more lives are put at risk.

Mr Hastie has been a vocal advocate for the WA Government to upgrade the Peel Health Campus, which continues to face growing pressure from local population growth and a lack of funding.

Locals who wish to sign Mr Hastie’s petition can do so here: https://www.andrewhastie.com.au/peel_health_campus