Biggest single Lotteries donation ever to Hospital Fund

31/7/96

The biggest single Lotteries Commission cheque ever, $62.3 million, has been presented to Health Minister Kevin Prince.

Mr Prince, who today accepted the cheque from Lotteries Commission chairman Lloyd Stewart at a special ceremony at Osborne Park Hospital, said the money would go to the State Government's Hospital Fund.

The Minister said the Lotteries Commission deserved recognition and congratulations for its contribution to health funding.

"Every year, the Lotteries Commission provides 16 per cent of its total revenue from the sale of lotteries products to the Hospital Fund," he said.

"These funds become part of the overall Consolidated Fund allocation to the Health Department and are used towards hospital running costs and new equipment.

"A donation of this magnitude can provide many services. For example, $62.3 million could fund the operation of Osborne Park Hospital for three years or pay for 641 full-time restorative care beds in a non-teaching hospital for a whole year."

Mr Prince said the total gross outlay for health services in Western Australia in the 1996-97 State Budget would be more than $1.6 billion and that the Government was very grateful to the Lotteries Commission for its substantial donation.

Media contact: Jenny Bassett 366 0300