❓ Opposition MP Cook questions the Health Minister's amendments to the Health Promotion Foundation Bill, alleging political interference. The Minister denies the accusation, stating the amendment mirrors existing Lotteries Commission Act provisions and doesn't grant directive power.
AnsweredQoN 485Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HEALTHWAY — WESTERN AUSTRALIAN HEALTH
PROMOTION FOUNDATION
485. Mr R.H. COOK to the Minister for
Health:
I refer to the listed amendment to
the Western Australian Health Promotion Foundation Bill 2015 currently before
Parliament and the minister's comments to the media in February that —
The independence we want is that we
don't get political interference from me or a future minister,''
�
''I'm keen to do that
and clearly I won't be there forever.
''And I don't think it's
appropriate for future ministers to be interfering.''
(1) If the
minister is so keen that the Western Australian Health Promotion Foundation
operate independently of the minister, why has the minister moved amendments to
give himself a veto over grants made by the foundation?
(2) Does this not
confirm that this is more about implementing the agenda of the Premier to
politicise Healthway rather than any false claim that it is about its reform?
PROMOTION FOUNDATION
485. Mr R.H. COOK to the Minister for
Health:
I refer to the listed amendment to
the Western Australian Health Promotion Foundation Bill 2015 currently before
Parliament and the minister's comments to the media in February that —
The independence we want is that we
don't get political interference from me or a future minister,''
�
''I'm keen to do that
and clearly I won't be there forever.
''And I don't think it's
appropriate for future ministers to be interfering.''
(1) If the
minister is so keen that the Western Australian Health Promotion Foundation
operate independently of the minister, why has the minister moved amendments to
give himself a veto over grants made by the foundation?
(2) Does this not
confirm that this is more about implementing the agenda of the Premier to
politicise Healthway rather than any false claim that it is about its reform?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) That
is not true and the amendment put in was an inadvertent leaving out of a
section from the Lotteries Commission Act. We have made the statement on many
occasions that this will mimic what happens in the Lotteries Commission Act. I
made it very clear that I would have no ability to direct Healthway in the way
it gives its money. Just as the Premier does not have the ability to direct the
Lotteries Commission, I will have no ability to direct it in where it chooses
to put the money. What I do have the ability to do with the Lotteries
Commission, as does the Premier, is to veto any component of the grant that has
been given. The Premier has that ability and so did ministers in the member's
government, and that has been in place for many years. Interestingly enough,
the Premier, in all the time we have been in government, has not vetoed any of
the grants given by the Lotteries Commission. I anticipate that that is likely
to be the same.
is not true and the amendment put in was an inadvertent leaving out of a
section from the Lotteries Commission Act. We have made the statement on many
occasions that this will mimic what happens in the Lotteries Commission Act. I
made it very clear that I would have no ability to direct Healthway in the way
it gives its money. Just as the Premier does not have the ability to direct the
Lotteries Commission, I will have no ability to direct it in where it chooses
to put the money. What I do have the ability to do with the Lotteries
Commission, as does the Premier, is to veto any component of the grant that has
been given. The Premier has that ability and so did ministers in the member's
government, and that has been in place for many years. Interestingly enough,
the Premier, in all the time we have been in government, has not vetoed any of
the grants given by the Lotteries Commission. I anticipate that that is likely
to be the same.
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