WA Government to push ahead with new Perth maternity hospital on back of forecast surplus

The West Australian Government has committed $1.8 billion to a new women’s and babies’ hospital for Perth, following a larger-than-expected forecast surplus for next financial year.

WA Premier Mark McGowan said the mid-year financial review, which is expected to be handed down in the coming weeks, would predict a surplus of $2.2 billion for 2021 — $1 billion more than was estimated in this year’s budget.

Mr McGowan said the additional funds would allow the Government to fully fund a new maternity hospital at the Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, delivering on a promise to move the ageing King Edward Memorial Hospital from its century-old site.

The Government had committed $230 million to the project last year — following a royalties…