❓ Ms. Davies questions the lack of a firm start date for the Meekatharra Hospital construction, promised in 2017. The Minister defends the government's commitment, citing proper budgetary processes and criticising the previous government's handling of finances.
AnsweredQoN 418Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MEEKATHARRA HOSPITAL
418. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question.
Minister, from that answer, can I take it that there is no firm start date for
the construction of the Meekatharra Hospital, a commitment that was made by
this government in 2017?
418. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question.
Minister, from that answer, can I take it that there is no firm start date for
the construction of the Meekatharra Hospital, a commitment that was made by
this government in 2017?
AnswerView source ↗
I am sure that the member opposite,
the Leader of the Opposition, despite sitting in cabinet, probably does not
understand the proper processes of cabinet process, and particularly proper
budget processes. One of the first things that I did —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Ms A. SANDERSON : One of the
first things that I did as cabinet secretary when we were elected in 2017 was
to re-establish the importance of the ERC in all financial and budgetary
decisions, instead of having what we had— a sham process, which was the ERC process under Colin Barnett, in which
he made all the decisions, and then the shadow ERC process, which was
the royalty for regions process, in which members opposite threw money around
willy-nilly. We are absolutely committed to this process, but it needs to go
through the proper processes of government. That is the Expenditure Review
Committee. Once the money is allocated, then there will be a business case
project definition plan and it will be out to tender. That is when the time
frames are determined.
There has never been more investment
in regional health care than under this government, full stop—never
ever.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Ms A. SANDERSON : The member
did nothing for Geraldton when she was in the Liberal–National
government. It took a Labor member and a Labor government to deliver that and
bring that home. We will continue to invest, we will continue to deliver on our
election commitments and we will do it responsibly and through the proper
processes of government.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
the Leader of the Opposition, despite sitting in cabinet, probably does not
understand the proper processes of cabinet process, and particularly proper
budget processes. One of the first things that I did —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Ms A. SANDERSON : One of the
first things that I did as cabinet secretary when we were elected in 2017 was
to re-establish the importance of the ERC in all financial and budgetary
decisions, instead of having what we had— a sham process, which was the ERC process under Colin Barnett, in which
he made all the decisions, and then the shadow ERC process, which was
the royalty for regions process, in which members opposite threw money around
willy-nilly. We are absolutely committed to this process, but it needs to go
through the proper processes of government. That is the Expenditure Review
Committee. Once the money is allocated, then there will be a business case
project definition plan and it will be out to tender. That is when the time
frames are determined.
There has never been more investment
in regional health care than under this government, full stop—never
ever.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Ms A. SANDERSON : The member
did nothing for Geraldton when she was in the Liberal–National
government. It took a Labor member and a Labor government to deliver that and
bring that home. We will continue to invest, we will continue to deliver on our
election commitments and we will do it responsibly and through the proper
processes of government.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
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