Health department to sell $1.8m of land

The state opposition has again slammed the Barnett government's 3 per cent budget cuts with Department of Health the latest to reveal a fire sale of $1.8 million worth of land.

Acting Opposition Leader Roger Cook today said land earmarked for sale by the department includes a number of hospital sites across regional Western Australia.

Sites include the old Port Hedland hospital site, the Dwellingup Nursing Post, part of the Bridgetown Hospital site and Staff housing in Pinjarra.

The sale follows news of the WA Police selling $24 million worth of land to fund a new helicopter.

"This is not a sustainable way for the Barnett Government to finance front line services and to meet budget demands," Mr Cook said.

"In a desperate attempt to meet the three per cent cuts the Barnett Government has reverted to selling valuable land and assets."

Mr Cook questioned whether the Barnett government could achieve the best possible price from land sales in the current economic climate.

"Land prices across the State have been on the decline in recent months and I can't see how the Barnett Government will achieve the best results for taxpayers by selling these assets at this time," he Cook said.

"Once this land is sold it is gone for good and this appears to be a very short-term fix to budget pressures."