Western Australia is bracing for a hotter-than-usual summer, but the state government has yet to complete several heat adaptation tasks from its 2023 Climate Adaptation Strategy, including a health department plan that was due in 2024.
The strategy set specific tasks for departments, but several remain listed as “in progress”. A commitment to support Aboriginal-led climate action, with a 2025 due date, is also still marked in progress. The delays come despite the government’s own warning that extreme heat could put growing pressure on WA’s already stretched hospitals.
A 2024 study commissioned by WA Health found heat-related deaths in Perth could rise by about 60 per cent by the 2050s, and hospital admissions linked to heat could increase by almost 34 per cent. The Bureau of Meteorology’s latest forecast gives Perth more than an 80 per cent chance of higher-than-usual daytime temperatures between December and February.
WA Greens MP Brad Pettitt said the outlook was concerning, particularly for First Nations residents in WA’s north-west, the elderly, low-income households, and people living in homes without air conditioning. “There’s no point just writing a high-level plan, acknowledging how big these impacts will be, and then not acting on it,” he said. “There’s inadequate funding and inadequate urgency around implementing this.”
Pettitt said the government should invest in practical ways to help people stay cool, such as keeping air-conditioned libraries open longer and improving access to swimming pools in regional communities. He also criticised the lack of tree cover in new suburbs, leaving residents with little shade during extreme heat.
A WA Health spokesperson said the department would work to keep the community “informed and safe” ahead of summer. “In partnership with the Bureau of Meteorology, we are preparing our systems, training staff and preparing targeted health information based on forecast conditions,” they said. “We are also working with hospitals across the state to support preparedness for heat-related presentations.”
Pettitt said that response fell well short of what was needed. “This is not a proportionate response to the challenge before us, and we are a wealthy state. We are absolutely capable of investing in the things we need,” he said.
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, which published the Climate Adaptation Strategy, and the health minister have been contacted for comment.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Vulnerable groups including the elderly, low-income households, and First Nations residents are most at risk from extreme heat, yet key adaptation measures remain incomplete.
- Hospital systems already under strain face a projected surge in heat-related admissions, with no comprehensive health plan in place.
- The delay signals a broader gap between long-term climate commitments and near-term preparedness, which could affect public safety this summer.
Background
In 2023, the WA government committed to a Climate Adaptation Strategy to ensure the state and vulnerable communities were prepared for climate change impacts, including heatwaves. The strategy assigned specific tasks to departments with set deadlines. Several of those tasks, including a health adaptation plan and Aboriginal-led climate action commitments, are still listed as “in progress” past their due dates.
Key Perspectives
Brad Pettitt (WA Greens MP): Says the government’s response is not proportionate to the challenge, with inadequate funding and urgency. He calls for practical measures such as longer library hours, better access to swimming pools, and more tree cover in new suburbs.
WA Health spokesperson: States the department is preparing its systems, training staff, and working with hospitals and the Bureau of Meteorology to keep the community informed and safe during the summer.
What to Watch
- Whether the Department of Health completes its adaptation plan before the peak of summer heat.
- Any additional funding announcements or policy shifts in response to public and political pressure.
- Hospital admission data during the summer months for early signs of heat-related strain.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedWA is stalling on heatwave health plans while hotter-than-usual temperatures are forecast.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “WA stalls on heatwave health plans ahead of scorching summer. Western Australia is facing another scorching summer, with hotter-than-usual temperatures forecast as the government stalls on promised heat plans for vulnerable communities.”
- SupportedGreens MP Brad Pettitt says funding and urgency for implementing the plans are inadequate.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““There’s inadequate funding and inadequate urgency around implementing this.””
- SupportedA 2024 study commissioned by WA Health found heat-related deaths in Perth could rise by about 60 per cent by the 2050s.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “A 2024 study commissioned by WA Health found heat-related deaths in Perth could rise by about 60 per cent by the 2050s”
- SupportedThe government has yet to complete several tasks in its 2023 Climate Adaptation Strategy, including a health department plan due in 2024.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “In 2023, the government committed to a Climate Adaptation Strategy to ensure the state and vulnerable communities were prepared for the impacts of climate change, including heatwaves, with specific tasks set for departments to undertake. ... several of those tasks remain “in progress”, including the Department of Health’s adaptation plan for health and human services – which was supposed to be completed in 2024.”
- SupportedPettitt said: “There’s no point just writing a high-level plan, acknowledging how big these impacts will be, and then not acting on it.”Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““There’s no point just writing a high-level plan, acknowledging how big these impacts will be, and then not acting on it,” he said.”
- SupportedHospital admissions linked to heat could increase by almost 34 per cent.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “hospital admissions linked to heat could increase by almost 34 per cent.”
- SupportedPerth has more than an 80 per cent chance of higher-than-usual daytime temperatures between December and February, according to the Bureau of Meteorology’s latest forecast.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “the Bureau of Meteorology’s latest forecast showing the city has more than an 80 per cent chance of recording higher-than-usual daytime temperatures between December and February.”
- Partly supportedThe government warned that extreme heat could put growing pressure on WA’s already stretched hospitals.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The delays come despite the government’s own warning that extreme heat could put growing pressure on WA’s already stretched hospitals in the future.”
- SupportedPettitt said: “This is not a proportionate response to the challenge before us, and we are a wealthy state. We are absolutely capable of investing in the things we need.”Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““This is not a proportionate response to the challenge before us, and we are a wealthy state. We are absolutely capable of investing in the things we need,” he said.”
- SupportedA WA Health spokesperson said the department would work to keep the community “informed and safe” ahead of summer.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “A WA Health spokesperson told this masthead the department would work to keep the community “informed and safe” ahead of summer.”
- SupportedThe WA Health spokesperson said the department was preparing systems, training staff and preparing targeted health information with the Bureau of Meteorology.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““In partnership with the Bureau of Meteorology, we are preparing our systems, training staff and preparing targeted health information based on forecast conditions,” they said.”
- SupportedPettitt said the government should invest in practical cooling measures, including longer opening hours for air-conditioned libraries and better access to regional swimming pools.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Pettitt said the government should be investing in practical ways to help people stay cool, particularly those who cannot afford air conditioning or live in poorly insulated homes. Like keeping air-conditioned libraries open longer and improving access to swimming pools in regional communities.”
