❓ Mr. Cook questions the Minister for Health about lead contamination at the Perth Children's Hospital and the delay in informing the public. The Minister responds that the hospital is still under construction and the issue is being addressed, but a firm opening date is uncertain.
AnsweredQoN 590Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PERTH CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL — LEAD
CONTAMINATION
590. Mr R.H. COOK to the Minister for
Health:
I refer to lead contamination found
in drinking water at the new children's hospital.
(1) When was the minister first made
aware of this most recent issue at the new children's hospital?
(2) Why did the
minister not inform the public of the lead contamination issue as soon as he
was made aware of it?
(3) Will Perth Children's
Hospital definitely be open before the end of this year?
CONTAMINATION
590. Mr R.H. COOK to the Minister for
Health:
I refer to lead contamination found
in drinking water at the new children's hospital.
(1) When was the minister first made
aware of this most recent issue at the new children's hospital?
(2) Why did the
minister not inform the public of the lead contamination issue as soon as he
was made aware of it?
(3) Will Perth Children's
Hospital definitely be open before the end of this year?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) The
drinking water, as the member refers to, at Perth Children's Hospital
is not actually drinking water that is being consumed by patients or, to the
best of my knowledge, anyone else, at this stage. As the Treasurer pointed out
yesterday, the building is still under construction and it is not a public
site. A whole range of issues are being identified, as is normally the case
with any building project, and, in particular, a building project as complex
and as advanced as the new Perth Children's Hospital. Those issues are
being progressively dealt with and addressed by the managing contractor working
with strategic projects in the Department of Treasury and, where appropriate,
with the Department of Health. As I said yesterday, I understand that the Perth
Children's Hospital task force was made aware of elevated levels of
lead in the water in early August. Obviously that is of concern, but it is not
something that is of any significant public consequence, because the hospital
is not open. Obviously, if the hospital had been opened and that had been
identified, then it would be a significant issue.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : As I said, there is a whole range of issues that need to be
addressed and are being addressed in a systematic and a progressive way by the
managing contractor working with the state government.
Mr
P.B. Watson interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Albany!
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : In parallel with the completion of the construction of the
project, the commissioning of the hospital is also underway. I understand that
about 500 people from Princess Margaret Hospital for Children and other areas
in Health are involved in the commissioning process now. That is happening in
parallel and there is a lot of activity on the site. When it is completed and
open to the public, it will be a fantastic new $1.2 billion project delivered
by this government. As to when it will be open to patients, that will occur
when it is entirely safe to do so and when advice is provided by the Department
of Health and the director general of Health that it is appropriate to do so.
Obviously, as time goes on, it gets more difficult for full commissioning to be
completed prior to Christmas, but we are awaiting further advice in relation to
that.
drinking water, as the member refers to, at Perth Children's Hospital
is not actually drinking water that is being consumed by patients or, to the
best of my knowledge, anyone else, at this stage. As the Treasurer pointed out
yesterday, the building is still under construction and it is not a public
site. A whole range of issues are being identified, as is normally the case
with any building project, and, in particular, a building project as complex
and as advanced as the new Perth Children's Hospital. Those issues are
being progressively dealt with and addressed by the managing contractor working
with strategic projects in the Department of Treasury and, where appropriate,
with the Department of Health. As I said yesterday, I understand that the Perth
Children's Hospital task force was made aware of elevated levels of
lead in the water in early August. Obviously that is of concern, but it is not
something that is of any significant public consequence, because the hospital
is not open. Obviously, if the hospital had been opened and that had been
identified, then it would be a significant issue.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : As I said, there is a whole range of issues that need to be
addressed and are being addressed in a systematic and a progressive way by the
managing contractor working with the state government.
Mr
P.B. Watson interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Albany!
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : In parallel with the completion of the construction of the
project, the commissioning of the hospital is also underway. I understand that
about 500 people from Princess Margaret Hospital for Children and other areas
in Health are involved in the commissioning process now. That is happening in
parallel and there is a lot of activity on the site. When it is completed and
open to the public, it will be a fantastic new $1.2 billion project delivered
by this government. As to when it will be open to patients, that will occur
when it is entirely safe to do so and when advice is provided by the Department
of Health and the director general of Health that it is appropriate to do so.
Obviously, as time goes on, it gets more difficult for full commissioning to be
completed prior to Christmas, but we are awaiting further advice in relation to
that.
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