Former WA Under Treasurer Michael Barnes and former health DG Dr Neale Fong to head-up snap hospital review

The former WA under treasurer and the State’s one-time health boss will lead the “snap” review into bolstering hospital maintenance. Premier Roger Cook announced his hand-picked team to carry out the investigation into improving procurement and contract management practices after The West Australian’s special investigation exposed the deteriorating infrastructure at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. Long-term senior public servant Michael Barnes will be responsible for conducting the review with oversight from the Department of Premier and Cabinet, the Department of Treasury and Finance, and the Department of Health. Mr Barnes served as the state’s under treasurer from 2014 until he was appointed as Director of WA Treasury Corporation in May. Last week, Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation Amber-Jade Sanderson announced Mr Barnes will also take over as chairman of Western Power from December. In 2020, he was awarded the Public Service Medal and was the Institute of Public Administration Australia WA’s Leader of the Year in government for 2022. He’ll be joined on the hospital review by former Department of Health director general Neale Fong, who has over 35 years of experience in the sector and is a registered medical practitioner. Dr Fong is the chair of the WA Country Health Service board and is the chief executive and executive director of Bethesda Health Care, as well as the director of several health companies. He holds the role of President of the Australasian College of Health Service Management, and as chair of the International Hospital Federation Global Healthcare Management Special Interest Group.