❓ Mr. Cook questions the Minister for Health, Dr. Hames, about potential privatisation of hospital services beyond existing commitments, leading to a heated exchange and denials from the Minister. The Minister avoids committing beyond the current term of government.
AnsweredQoN 120Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
hospital services — privatisation
On 17 November last year, the minister said that hospital workers had nothing to fear from his privatisation agenda, at least within this term of government. (1) Is it not true that the minister has plans for a much wider privatisation agenda beyond the Fiona Stanley and Midland hospitals past the next election? (2) Given the minister’s wider privatisation agenda, why should hospital employees, including Health Services Union members, not have a no-privatisation clause in their employment agreements to protect their jobs? Dr K.D. HAMES
On 17 November last year, the minister said that hospital workers had nothing to fear from his privatisation agenda, at least within this term of government. (1) Is it not true that the minister has plans for a much wider privatisation agenda beyond the Fiona Stanley and Midland hospitals past the next election? (2) Given the minister’s wider privatisation agenda, why should hospital employees, including Health Services Union members, not have a no-privatisation clause in their employment agreements to protect their jobs? Dr K.D. HAMES
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) It is interesting that the two parts of the question bear no resemblance to each other. The first question asks whether I have a wider agenda and the second states that given my wider agenda—whatever! The answer is no. The answer to the second part is not applicable. The answer to the first part is no. Mr R.H. Cook : You have already admitted that you have a wider agenda. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; I do not have a wider agenda. Mr E.S. Ripper : So you’re under pressure and you’re backflipping. Dr K.D. HAMES : The pressure has done this to me! Mr R.H. Cook : Keep your hair on and answer the question! Dr K.D. HAMES : For those who are interested, I shaved my head in support of the Leukaemia Foundation. I am pleased to see that the member for Warnbro has done the same. I do not know if he is hearing the same comments that I am. The members behind me are telling me, “Never again! Please, don’t do it anymore!” I think they can see all my scars. Mr R.H. Cook : Will you be privatising those hospitals? Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no wider agenda. Let me make clear again what I have said before. That is, where we are constructing new hospitals, such as Fiona Stanley Hospital and Midland hospital, the option is open for government to consider contracting out services, as it has. The same applied for Busselton and Albany. In Albany, we chose not to. The public servants provided a submission that was accepted as being the best. However, for newly constructed hospitals, separate from existing hospitals, we will not do so. I made it clear that for our existing hospitals—Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Royal Perth Hospital, Fremantle Hospital or the existing secondary hospitals—we would not seek to contract out services. If we decided to do so, we would make it clear prior to the next election that that was something we intended to do and we would go to the election with that. I believe that we will not do that. My belief is that that will not be an election commitment of this side of the house in the lead-up to the next election. But it will be up to the party room to decide whether that is or is not the case. What I have made it clear is that — Mr R.H. Cook : You’re the minister and the Deputy Premier. Can’t you make a commitment on behalf of the government? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not going to commit this government beyond this current term of government. Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
(1) Is it not true that the minister has plans for a much wider privatisation agenda beyond the Fiona Stanley and Midland hospitals past the next election? (2) Given the minister’s wider privatisation agenda, why should hospital employees, including Health Services Union members, not have a no-privatisation clause in their employment agreements to protect their jobs? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(2) It is interesting that the two parts of the question bear no resemblance to each other. The first question asks whether I have a wider agenda and the second states that given my wider agenda—whatever! The answer is no. The answer to the second part is not applicable. The answer to the first part is no. Mr R.H. Cook : You have already admitted that you have a wider agenda. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; I do not have a wider agenda. Mr E.S. Ripper : So you’re under pressure and you’re backflipping. Dr K.D. HAMES : The pressure has done this to me! Mr R.H. Cook : Keep your hair on and answer the question! Dr K.D. HAMES : For those who are interested, I shaved my head in support of the Leukaemia Foundation. I am pleased to see that the member for Warnbro has done the same. I do not know if he is hearing the same comments that I am. The members behind me are telling me, “Never again! Please, don’t do it anymore!” I think they can see all my scars. Mr R.H. Cook : Will you be privatising those hospitals? Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no wider agenda. Let me make clear again what I have said before. That is, where we are constructing new hospitals, such as Fiona Stanley Hospital and Midland hospital, the option is open for government to consider contracting out services, as it has. The same applied for Busselton and Albany. In Albany, we chose not to. The public servants provided a submission that was accepted as being the best. However, for newly constructed hospitals, separate from existing hospitals, we will not do so. I made it clear that for our existing hospitals—Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Royal Perth Hospital, Fremantle Hospital or the existing secondary hospitals—we would not seek to contract out services. If we decided to do so, we would make it clear prior to the next election that that was something we intended to do and we would go to the election with that. I believe that we will not do that. My belief is that that will not be an election commitment of this side of the house in the lead-up to the next election. But it will be up to the party room to decide whether that is or is not the case. What I have made it clear is that — Mr R.H. Cook : You’re the minister and the Deputy Premier. Can’t you make a commitment on behalf of the government? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not going to commit this government beyond this current term of government. Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
(2) Given the minister’s wider privatisation agenda, why should hospital employees, including Health Services Union members, not have a no-privatisation clause in their employment agreements to protect their jobs? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(2) It is interesting that the two parts of the question bear no resemblance to each other. The first question asks whether I have a wider agenda and the second states that given my wider agenda—whatever! The answer is no. The answer to the second part is not applicable. The answer to the first part is no. Mr R.H. Cook : You have already admitted that you have a wider agenda. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; I do not have a wider agenda. Mr E.S. Ripper : So you’re under pressure and you’re backflipping. Dr K.D. HAMES : The pressure has done this to me! Mr R.H. Cook : Keep your hair on and answer the question! Dr K.D. HAMES : For those who are interested, I shaved my head in support of the Leukaemia Foundation. I am pleased to see that the member for Warnbro has done the same. I do not know if he is hearing the same comments that I am. The members behind me are telling me, “Never again! Please, don’t do it anymore!” I think they can see all my scars. Mr R.H. Cook : Will you be privatising those hospitals? Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no wider agenda. Let me make clear again what I have said before. That is, where we are constructing new hospitals, such as Fiona Stanley Hospital and Midland hospital, the option is open for government to consider contracting out services, as it has. The same applied for Busselton and Albany. In Albany, we chose not to. The public servants provided a submission that was accepted as being the best. However, for newly constructed hospitals, separate from existing hospitals, we will not do so. I made it clear that for our existing hospitals—Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Royal Perth Hospital, Fremantle Hospital or the existing secondary hospitals—we would not seek to contract out services. If we decided to do so, we would make it clear prior to the next election that that was something we intended to do and we would go to the election with that. I believe that we will not do that. My belief is that that will not be an election commitment of this side of the house in the lead-up to the next election. But it will be up to the party room to decide whether that is or is not the case. What I have made it clear is that — Mr R.H. Cook : You’re the minister and the Deputy Premier. Can’t you make a commitment on behalf of the government? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not going to commit this government beyond this current term of government. Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(2) It is interesting that the two parts of the question bear no resemblance to each other. The first question asks whether I have a wider agenda and the second states that given my wider agenda—whatever! The answer is no. The answer to the second part is not applicable. The answer to the first part is no. Mr R.H. Cook : You have already admitted that you have a wider agenda. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; I do not have a wider agenda. Mr E.S. Ripper : So you’re under pressure and you’re backflipping. Dr K.D. HAMES : The pressure has done this to me! Mr R.H. Cook : Keep your hair on and answer the question! Dr K.D. HAMES : For those who are interested, I shaved my head in support of the Leukaemia Foundation. I am pleased to see that the member for Warnbro has done the same. I do not know if he is hearing the same comments that I am. The members behind me are telling me, “Never again! Please, don’t do it anymore!” I think they can see all my scars. Mr R.H. Cook : Will you be privatising those hospitals? Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no wider agenda. Let me make clear again what I have said before. That is, where we are constructing new hospitals, such as Fiona Stanley Hospital and Midland hospital, the option is open for government to consider contracting out services, as it has. The same applied for Busselton and Albany. In Albany, we chose not to. The public servants provided a submission that was accepted as being the best. However, for newly constructed hospitals, separate from existing hospitals, we will not do so. I made it clear that for our existing hospitals—Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Royal Perth Hospital, Fremantle Hospital or the existing secondary hospitals—we would not seek to contract out services. If we decided to do so, we would make it clear prior to the next election that that was something we intended to do and we would go to the election with that. I believe that we will not do that. My belief is that that will not be an election commitment of this side of the house in the lead-up to the next election. But it will be up to the party room to decide whether that is or is not the case. What I have made it clear is that — Mr R.H. Cook : You’re the minister and the Deputy Premier. Can’t you make a commitment on behalf of the government? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not going to commit this government beyond this current term of government. Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
(1)–(2) It is interesting that the two parts of the question bear no resemblance to each other. The first question asks whether I have a wider agenda and the second states that given my wider agenda—whatever! The answer is no. The answer to the second part is not applicable. The answer to the first part is no. Mr R.H. Cook : You have already admitted that you have a wider agenda. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; I do not have a wider agenda. Mr E.S. Ripper : So you’re under pressure and you’re backflipping. Dr K.D. HAMES : The pressure has done this to me! Mr R.H. Cook : Keep your hair on and answer the question! Dr K.D. HAMES : For those who are interested, I shaved my head in support of the Leukaemia Foundation. I am pleased to see that the member for Warnbro has done the same. I do not know if he is hearing the same comments that I am. The members behind me are telling me, “Never again! Please, don’t do it anymore!” I think they can see all my scars. Mr R.H. Cook : Will you be privatising those hospitals? Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no wider agenda. Let me make clear again what I have said before. That is, where we are constructing new hospitals, such as Fiona Stanley Hospital and Midland hospital, the option is open for government to consider contracting out services, as it has. The same applied for Busselton and Albany. In Albany, we chose not to. The public servants provided a submission that was accepted as being the best. However, for newly constructed hospitals, separate from existing hospitals, we will not do so. I made it clear that for our existing hospitals—Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Royal Perth Hospital, Fremantle Hospital or the existing secondary hospitals—we would not seek to contract out services. If we decided to do so, we would make it clear prior to the next election that that was something we intended to do and we would go to the election with that. I believe that we will not do that. My belief is that that will not be an election commitment of this side of the house in the lead-up to the next election. But it will be up to the party room to decide whether that is or is not the case. What I have made it clear is that — Mr R.H. Cook : You’re the minister and the Deputy Premier. Can’t you make a commitment on behalf of the government? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not going to commit this government beyond this current term of government. Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
Dr K.D. HAMES : No; I do not have a wider agenda. Mr E.S. Ripper : So you’re under pressure and you’re backflipping. Dr K.D. HAMES : The pressure has done this to me! Mr R.H. Cook : Keep your hair on and answer the question! Dr K.D. HAMES : For those who are interested, I shaved my head in support of the Leukaemia Foundation. I am pleased to see that the member for Warnbro has done the same. I do not know if he is hearing the same comments that I am. The members behind me are telling me, “Never again! Please, don’t do it anymore!” I think they can see all my scars. Mr R.H. Cook : Will you be privatising those hospitals? Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no wider agenda. Let me make clear again what I have said before. That is, where we are constructing new hospitals, such as Fiona Stanley Hospital and Midland hospital, the option is open for government to consider contracting out services, as it has. The same applied for Busselton and Albany. In Albany, we chose not to. The public servants provided a submission that was accepted as being the best. However, for newly constructed hospitals, separate from existing hospitals, we will not do so. I made it clear that for our existing hospitals—Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Royal Perth Hospital, Fremantle Hospital or the existing secondary hospitals—we would not seek to contract out services. If we decided to do so, we would make it clear prior to the next election that that was something we intended to do and we would go to the election with that. I believe that we will not do that. My belief is that that will not be an election commitment of this side of the house in the lead-up to the next election. But it will be up to the party room to decide whether that is or is not the case. What I have made it clear is that — Mr R.H. Cook : You’re the minister and the Deputy Premier. Can’t you make a commitment on behalf of the government? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not going to commit this government beyond this current term of government. Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
Mr E.S. Ripper : So you’re under pressure and you’re backflipping. Dr K.D. HAMES : The pressure has done this to me! Mr R.H. Cook : Keep your hair on and answer the question! Dr K.D. HAMES : For those who are interested, I shaved my head in support of the Leukaemia Foundation. I am pleased to see that the member for Warnbro has done the same. I do not know if he is hearing the same comments that I am. The members behind me are telling me, “Never again! Please, don’t do it anymore!” I think they can see all my scars. Mr R.H. Cook : Will you be privatising those hospitals? Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no wider agenda. Let me make clear again what I have said before. That is, where we are constructing new hospitals, such as Fiona Stanley Hospital and Midland hospital, the option is open for government to consider contracting out services, as it has. The same applied for Busselton and Albany. In Albany, we chose not to. The public servants provided a submission that was accepted as being the best. However, for newly constructed hospitals, separate from existing hospitals, we will not do so. I made it clear that for our existing hospitals—Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Royal Perth Hospital, Fremantle Hospital or the existing secondary hospitals—we would not seek to contract out services. If we decided to do so, we would make it clear prior to the next election that that was something we intended to do and we would go to the election with that. I believe that we will not do that. My belief is that that will not be an election commitment of this side of the house in the lead-up to the next election. But it will be up to the party room to decide whether that is or is not the case. What I have made it clear is that — Mr R.H. Cook : You’re the minister and the Deputy Premier. Can’t you make a commitment on behalf of the government? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not going to commit this government beyond this current term of government. Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
Dr K.D. HAMES : The pressure has done this to me! Mr R.H. Cook : Keep your hair on and answer the question! Dr K.D. HAMES : For those who are interested, I shaved my head in support of the Leukaemia Foundation. I am pleased to see that the member for Warnbro has done the same. I do not know if he is hearing the same comments that I am. The members behind me are telling me, “Never again! Please, don’t do it anymore!” I think they can see all my scars. Mr R.H. Cook : Will you be privatising those hospitals? Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no wider agenda. Let me make clear again what I have said before. That is, where we are constructing new hospitals, such as Fiona Stanley Hospital and Midland hospital, the option is open for government to consider contracting out services, as it has. The same applied for Busselton and Albany. In Albany, we chose not to. The public servants provided a submission that was accepted as being the best. However, for newly constructed hospitals, separate from existing hospitals, we will not do so. I made it clear that for our existing hospitals—Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Royal Perth Hospital, Fremantle Hospital or the existing secondary hospitals—we would not seek to contract out services. If we decided to do so, we would make it clear prior to the next election that that was something we intended to do and we would go to the election with that. I believe that we will not do that. My belief is that that will not be an election commitment of this side of the house in the lead-up to the next election. But it will be up to the party room to decide whether that is or is not the case. What I have made it clear is that — Mr R.H. Cook : You’re the minister and the Deputy Premier. Can’t you make a commitment on behalf of the government? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not going to commit this government beyond this current term of government. Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
Mr R.H. Cook : Keep your hair on and answer the question! Dr K.D. HAMES : For those who are interested, I shaved my head in support of the Leukaemia Foundation. I am pleased to see that the member for Warnbro has done the same. I do not know if he is hearing the same comments that I am. The members behind me are telling me, “Never again! Please, don’t do it anymore!” I think they can see all my scars. Mr R.H. Cook : Will you be privatising those hospitals? Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no wider agenda. Let me make clear again what I have said before. That is, where we are constructing new hospitals, such as Fiona Stanley Hospital and Midland hospital, the option is open for government to consider contracting out services, as it has. The same applied for Busselton and Albany. In Albany, we chose not to. The public servants provided a submission that was accepted as being the best. However, for newly constructed hospitals, separate from existing hospitals, we will not do so. I made it clear that for our existing hospitals—Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Royal Perth Hospital, Fremantle Hospital or the existing secondary hospitals—we would not seek to contract out services. If we decided to do so, we would make it clear prior to the next election that that was something we intended to do and we would go to the election with that. I believe that we will not do that. My belief is that that will not be an election commitment of this side of the house in the lead-up to the next election. But it will be up to the party room to decide whether that is or is not the case. What I have made it clear is that — Mr R.H. Cook : You’re the minister and the Deputy Premier. Can’t you make a commitment on behalf of the government? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not going to commit this government beyond this current term of government. Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
Dr K.D. HAMES : For those who are interested, I shaved my head in support of the Leukaemia Foundation. I am pleased to see that the member for Warnbro has done the same. I do not know if he is hearing the same comments that I am. The members behind me are telling me, “Never again! Please, don’t do it anymore!” I think they can see all my scars. Mr R.H. Cook : Will you be privatising those hospitals? Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no wider agenda. Let me make clear again what I have said before. That is, where we are constructing new hospitals, such as Fiona Stanley Hospital and Midland hospital, the option is open for government to consider contracting out services, as it has. The same applied for Busselton and Albany. In Albany, we chose not to. The public servants provided a submission that was accepted as being the best. However, for newly constructed hospitals, separate from existing hospitals, we will not do so. I made it clear that for our existing hospitals—Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Royal Perth Hospital, Fremantle Hospital or the existing secondary hospitals—we would not seek to contract out services. If we decided to do so, we would make it clear prior to the next election that that was something we intended to do and we would go to the election with that. I believe that we will not do that. My belief is that that will not be an election commitment of this side of the house in the lead-up to the next election. But it will be up to the party room to decide whether that is or is not the case. What I have made it clear is that — Mr R.H. Cook : You’re the minister and the Deputy Premier. Can’t you make a commitment on behalf of the government? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not going to commit this government beyond this current term of government. Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
Mr R.H. Cook : Will you be privatising those hospitals? Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no wider agenda. Let me make clear again what I have said before. That is, where we are constructing new hospitals, such as Fiona Stanley Hospital and Midland hospital, the option is open for government to consider contracting out services, as it has. The same applied for Busselton and Albany. In Albany, we chose not to. The public servants provided a submission that was accepted as being the best. However, for newly constructed hospitals, separate from existing hospitals, we will not do so. I made it clear that for our existing hospitals—Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Royal Perth Hospital, Fremantle Hospital or the existing secondary hospitals—we would not seek to contract out services. If we decided to do so, we would make it clear prior to the next election that that was something we intended to do and we would go to the election with that. I believe that we will not do that. My belief is that that will not be an election commitment of this side of the house in the lead-up to the next election. But it will be up to the party room to decide whether that is or is not the case. What I have made it clear is that — Mr R.H. Cook : You’re the minister and the Deputy Premier. Can’t you make a commitment on behalf of the government? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not going to commit this government beyond this current term of government. Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no wider agenda. Let me make clear again what I have said before. That is, where we are constructing new hospitals, such as Fiona Stanley Hospital and Midland hospital, the option is open for government to consider contracting out services, as it has. The same applied for Busselton and Albany. In Albany, we chose not to. The public servants provided a submission that was accepted as being the best. However, for newly constructed hospitals, separate from existing hospitals, we will not do so. I made it clear that for our existing hospitals—Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Royal Perth Hospital, Fremantle Hospital or the existing secondary hospitals—we would not seek to contract out services. If we decided to do so, we would make it clear prior to the next election that that was something we intended to do and we would go to the election with that. I believe that we will not do that. My belief is that that will not be an election commitment of this side of the house in the lead-up to the next election. But it will be up to the party room to decide whether that is or is not the case. What I have made it clear is that — Mr R.H. Cook : You’re the minister and the Deputy Premier. Can’t you make a commitment on behalf of the government? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not going to commit this government beyond this current term of government. Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
Mr R.H. Cook : You’re the minister and the Deputy Premier. Can’t you make a commitment on behalf of the government? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not going to commit this government beyond this current term of government. Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not going to commit this government beyond this current term of government. Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
(1) Is it not true that the minister has plans for a much wider privatisation agenda beyond the Fiona Stanley and Midland hospitals past the next election? (2) Given the minister’s wider privatisation agenda, why should hospital employees, including Health Services Union members, not have a no-privatisation clause in their employment agreements to protect their jobs? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(2) It is interesting that the two parts of the question bear no resemblance to each other. The first question asks whether I have a wider agenda and the second states that given my wider agenda—whatever! The answer is no. The answer to the second part is not applicable. The answer to the first part is no. Mr R.H. Cook : You have already admitted that you have a wider agenda. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; I do not have a wider agenda. Mr E.S. Ripper : So you’re under pressure and you’re backflipping. Dr K.D. HAMES : The pressure has done this to me! Mr R.H. Cook : Keep your hair on and answer the question! Dr K.D. HAMES : For those who are interested, I shaved my head in support of the Leukaemia Foundation. I am pleased to see that the member for Warnbro has done the same. I do not know if he is hearing the same comments that I am. The members behind me are telling me, “Never again! Please, don’t do it anymore!” I think they can see all my scars. Mr R.H. Cook : Will you be privatising those hospitals? Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no wider agenda. Let me make clear again what I have said before. That is, where we are constructing new hospitals, such as Fiona Stanley Hospital and Midland hospital, the option is open for government to consider contracting out services, as it has. The same applied for Busselton and Albany. In Albany, we chose not to. The public servants provided a submission that was accepted as being the best. However, for newly constructed hospitals, separate from existing hospitals, we will not do so. I made it clear that for our existing hospitals—Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Royal Perth Hospital, Fremantle Hospital or the existing secondary hospitals—we would not seek to contract out services. If we decided to do so, we would make it clear prior to the next election that that was something we intended to do and we would go to the election with that. I believe that we will not do that. My belief is that that will not be an election commitment of this side of the house in the lead-up to the next election. But it will be up to the party room to decide whether that is or is not the case. What I have made it clear is that — Mr R.H. Cook : You’re the minister and the Deputy Premier. Can’t you make a commitment on behalf of the government? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not going to commit this government beyond this current term of government. Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
(2) Given the minister’s wider privatisation agenda, why should hospital employees, including Health Services Union members, not have a no-privatisation clause in their employment agreements to protect their jobs? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(2) It is interesting that the two parts of the question bear no resemblance to each other. The first question asks whether I have a wider agenda and the second states that given my wider agenda—whatever! The answer is no. The answer to the second part is not applicable. The answer to the first part is no. Mr R.H. Cook : You have already admitted that you have a wider agenda. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; I do not have a wider agenda. Mr E.S. Ripper : So you’re under pressure and you’re backflipping. Dr K.D. HAMES : The pressure has done this to me! Mr R.H. Cook : Keep your hair on and answer the question! Dr K.D. HAMES : For those who are interested, I shaved my head in support of the Leukaemia Foundation. I am pleased to see that the member for Warnbro has done the same. I do not know if he is hearing the same comments that I am. The members behind me are telling me, “Never again! Please, don’t do it anymore!” I think they can see all my scars. Mr R.H. Cook : Will you be privatising those hospitals? Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no wider agenda. Let me make clear again what I have said before. That is, where we are constructing new hospitals, such as Fiona Stanley Hospital and Midland hospital, the option is open for government to consider contracting out services, as it has. The same applied for Busselton and Albany. In Albany, we chose not to. The public servants provided a submission that was accepted as being the best. However, for newly constructed hospitals, separate from existing hospitals, we will not do so. I made it clear that for our existing hospitals—Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Royal Perth Hospital, Fremantle Hospital or the existing secondary hospitals—we would not seek to contract out services. If we decided to do so, we would make it clear prior to the next election that that was something we intended to do and we would go to the election with that. I believe that we will not do that. My belief is that that will not be an election commitment of this side of the house in the lead-up to the next election. But it will be up to the party room to decide whether that is or is not the case. What I have made it clear is that — Mr R.H. Cook : You’re the minister and the Deputy Premier. Can’t you make a commitment on behalf of the government? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not going to commit this government beyond this current term of government. Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(2) It is interesting that the two parts of the question bear no resemblance to each other. The first question asks whether I have a wider agenda and the second states that given my wider agenda—whatever! The answer is no. The answer to the second part is not applicable. The answer to the first part is no. Mr R.H. Cook : You have already admitted that you have a wider agenda. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; I do not have a wider agenda. Mr E.S. Ripper : So you’re under pressure and you’re backflipping. Dr K.D. HAMES : The pressure has done this to me! Mr R.H. Cook : Keep your hair on and answer the question! Dr K.D. HAMES : For those who are interested, I shaved my head in support of the Leukaemia Foundation. I am pleased to see that the member for Warnbro has done the same. I do not know if he is hearing the same comments that I am. The members behind me are telling me, “Never again! Please, don’t do it anymore!” I think they can see all my scars. Mr R.H. Cook : Will you be privatising those hospitals? Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no wider agenda. Let me make clear again what I have said before. That is, where we are constructing new hospitals, such as Fiona Stanley Hospital and Midland hospital, the option is open for government to consider contracting out services, as it has. The same applied for Busselton and Albany. In Albany, we chose not to. The public servants provided a submission that was accepted as being the best. However, for newly constructed hospitals, separate from existing hospitals, we will not do so. I made it clear that for our existing hospitals—Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Royal Perth Hospital, Fremantle Hospital or the existing secondary hospitals—we would not seek to contract out services. If we decided to do so, we would make it clear prior to the next election that that was something we intended to do and we would go to the election with that. I believe that we will not do that. My belief is that that will not be an election commitment of this side of the house in the lead-up to the next election. But it will be up to the party room to decide whether that is or is not the case. What I have made it clear is that — Mr R.H. Cook : You’re the minister and the Deputy Premier. Can’t you make a commitment on behalf of the government? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not going to commit this government beyond this current term of government. Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
(1)–(2) It is interesting that the two parts of the question bear no resemblance to each other. The first question asks whether I have a wider agenda and the second states that given my wider agenda—whatever! The answer is no. The answer to the second part is not applicable. The answer to the first part is no. Mr R.H. Cook : You have already admitted that you have a wider agenda. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; I do not have a wider agenda. Mr E.S. Ripper : So you’re under pressure and you’re backflipping. Dr K.D. HAMES : The pressure has done this to me! Mr R.H. Cook : Keep your hair on and answer the question! Dr K.D. HAMES : For those who are interested, I shaved my head in support of the Leukaemia Foundation. I am pleased to see that the member for Warnbro has done the same. I do not know if he is hearing the same comments that I am. The members behind me are telling me, “Never again! Please, don’t do it anymore!” I think they can see all my scars. Mr R.H. Cook : Will you be privatising those hospitals? Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no wider agenda. Let me make clear again what I have said before. That is, where we are constructing new hospitals, such as Fiona Stanley Hospital and Midland hospital, the option is open for government to consider contracting out services, as it has. The same applied for Busselton and Albany. In Albany, we chose not to. The public servants provided a submission that was accepted as being the best. However, for newly constructed hospitals, separate from existing hospitals, we will not do so. I made it clear that for our existing hospitals—Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Royal Perth Hospital, Fremantle Hospital or the existing secondary hospitals—we would not seek to contract out services. If we decided to do so, we would make it clear prior to the next election that that was something we intended to do and we would go to the election with that. I believe that we will not do that. My belief is that that will not be an election commitment of this side of the house in the lead-up to the next election. But it will be up to the party room to decide whether that is or is not the case. What I have made it clear is that — Mr R.H. Cook : You’re the minister and the Deputy Premier. Can’t you make a commitment on behalf of the government? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not going to commit this government beyond this current term of government. Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
Dr K.D. HAMES : No; I do not have a wider agenda. Mr E.S. Ripper : So you’re under pressure and you’re backflipping. Dr K.D. HAMES : The pressure has done this to me! Mr R.H. Cook : Keep your hair on and answer the question! Dr K.D. HAMES : For those who are interested, I shaved my head in support of the Leukaemia Foundation. I am pleased to see that the member for Warnbro has done the same. I do not know if he is hearing the same comments that I am. The members behind me are telling me, “Never again! Please, don’t do it anymore!” I think they can see all my scars. Mr R.H. Cook : Will you be privatising those hospitals? Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no wider agenda. Let me make clear again what I have said before. That is, where we are constructing new hospitals, such as Fiona Stanley Hospital and Midland hospital, the option is open for government to consider contracting out services, as it has. The same applied for Busselton and Albany. In Albany, we chose not to. The public servants provided a submission that was accepted as being the best. However, for newly constructed hospitals, separate from existing hospitals, we will not do so. I made it clear that for our existing hospitals—Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Royal Perth Hospital, Fremantle Hospital or the existing secondary hospitals—we would not seek to contract out services. If we decided to do so, we would make it clear prior to the next election that that was something we intended to do and we would go to the election with that. I believe that we will not do that. My belief is that that will not be an election commitment of this side of the house in the lead-up to the next election. But it will be up to the party room to decide whether that is or is not the case. What I have made it clear is that — Mr R.H. Cook : You’re the minister and the Deputy Premier. Can’t you make a commitment on behalf of the government? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not going to commit this government beyond this current term of government. Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
Mr E.S. Ripper : So you’re under pressure and you’re backflipping. Dr K.D. HAMES : The pressure has done this to me! Mr R.H. Cook : Keep your hair on and answer the question! Dr K.D. HAMES : For those who are interested, I shaved my head in support of the Leukaemia Foundation. I am pleased to see that the member for Warnbro has done the same. I do not know if he is hearing the same comments that I am. The members behind me are telling me, “Never again! Please, don’t do it anymore!” I think they can see all my scars. Mr R.H. Cook : Will you be privatising those hospitals? Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no wider agenda. Let me make clear again what I have said before. That is, where we are constructing new hospitals, such as Fiona Stanley Hospital and Midland hospital, the option is open for government to consider contracting out services, as it has. The same applied for Busselton and Albany. In Albany, we chose not to. The public servants provided a submission that was accepted as being the best. However, for newly constructed hospitals, separate from existing hospitals, we will not do so. I made it clear that for our existing hospitals—Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Royal Perth Hospital, Fremantle Hospital or the existing secondary hospitals—we would not seek to contract out services. If we decided to do so, we would make it clear prior to the next election that that was something we intended to do and we would go to the election with that. I believe that we will not do that. My belief is that that will not be an election commitment of this side of the house in the lead-up to the next election. But it will be up to the party room to decide whether that is or is not the case. What I have made it clear is that — Mr R.H. Cook : You’re the minister and the Deputy Premier. Can’t you make a commitment on behalf of the government? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not going to commit this government beyond this current term of government. Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
Dr K.D. HAMES : The pressure has done this to me! Mr R.H. Cook : Keep your hair on and answer the question! Dr K.D. HAMES : For those who are interested, I shaved my head in support of the Leukaemia Foundation. I am pleased to see that the member for Warnbro has done the same. I do not know if he is hearing the same comments that I am. The members behind me are telling me, “Never again! Please, don’t do it anymore!” I think they can see all my scars. Mr R.H. Cook : Will you be privatising those hospitals? Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no wider agenda. Let me make clear again what I have said before. That is, where we are constructing new hospitals, such as Fiona Stanley Hospital and Midland hospital, the option is open for government to consider contracting out services, as it has. The same applied for Busselton and Albany. In Albany, we chose not to. The public servants provided a submission that was accepted as being the best. However, for newly constructed hospitals, separate from existing hospitals, we will not do so. I made it clear that for our existing hospitals—Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Royal Perth Hospital, Fremantle Hospital or the existing secondary hospitals—we would not seek to contract out services. If we decided to do so, we would make it clear prior to the next election that that was something we intended to do and we would go to the election with that. I believe that we will not do that. My belief is that that will not be an election commitment of this side of the house in the lead-up to the next election. But it will be up to the party room to decide whether that is or is not the case. What I have made it clear is that — Mr R.H. Cook : You’re the minister and the Deputy Premier. Can’t you make a commitment on behalf of the government? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not going to commit this government beyond this current term of government. Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
Mr R.H. Cook : Keep your hair on and answer the question! Dr K.D. HAMES : For those who are interested, I shaved my head in support of the Leukaemia Foundation. I am pleased to see that the member for Warnbro has done the same. I do not know if he is hearing the same comments that I am. The members behind me are telling me, “Never again! Please, don’t do it anymore!” I think they can see all my scars. Mr R.H. Cook : Will you be privatising those hospitals? Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no wider agenda. Let me make clear again what I have said before. That is, where we are constructing new hospitals, such as Fiona Stanley Hospital and Midland hospital, the option is open for government to consider contracting out services, as it has. The same applied for Busselton and Albany. In Albany, we chose not to. The public servants provided a submission that was accepted as being the best. However, for newly constructed hospitals, separate from existing hospitals, we will not do so. I made it clear that for our existing hospitals—Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Royal Perth Hospital, Fremantle Hospital or the existing secondary hospitals—we would not seek to contract out services. If we decided to do so, we would make it clear prior to the next election that that was something we intended to do and we would go to the election with that. I believe that we will not do that. My belief is that that will not be an election commitment of this side of the house in the lead-up to the next election. But it will be up to the party room to decide whether that is or is not the case. What I have made it clear is that — Mr R.H. Cook : You’re the minister and the Deputy Premier. Can’t you make a commitment on behalf of the government? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not going to commit this government beyond this current term of government. Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
Dr K.D. HAMES : For those who are interested, I shaved my head in support of the Leukaemia Foundation. I am pleased to see that the member for Warnbro has done the same. I do not know if he is hearing the same comments that I am. The members behind me are telling me, “Never again! Please, don’t do it anymore!” I think they can see all my scars. Mr R.H. Cook : Will you be privatising those hospitals? Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no wider agenda. Let me make clear again what I have said before. That is, where we are constructing new hospitals, such as Fiona Stanley Hospital and Midland hospital, the option is open for government to consider contracting out services, as it has. The same applied for Busselton and Albany. In Albany, we chose not to. The public servants provided a submission that was accepted as being the best. However, for newly constructed hospitals, separate from existing hospitals, we will not do so. I made it clear that for our existing hospitals—Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Royal Perth Hospital, Fremantle Hospital or the existing secondary hospitals—we would not seek to contract out services. If we decided to do so, we would make it clear prior to the next election that that was something we intended to do and we would go to the election with that. I believe that we will not do that. My belief is that that will not be an election commitment of this side of the house in the lead-up to the next election. But it will be up to the party room to decide whether that is or is not the case. What I have made it clear is that — Mr R.H. Cook : You’re the minister and the Deputy Premier. Can’t you make a commitment on behalf of the government? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not going to commit this government beyond this current term of government. Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
Mr R.H. Cook : Will you be privatising those hospitals? Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no wider agenda. Let me make clear again what I have said before. That is, where we are constructing new hospitals, such as Fiona Stanley Hospital and Midland hospital, the option is open for government to consider contracting out services, as it has. The same applied for Busselton and Albany. In Albany, we chose not to. The public servants provided a submission that was accepted as being the best. However, for newly constructed hospitals, separate from existing hospitals, we will not do so. I made it clear that for our existing hospitals—Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Royal Perth Hospital, Fremantle Hospital or the existing secondary hospitals—we would not seek to contract out services. If we decided to do so, we would make it clear prior to the next election that that was something we intended to do and we would go to the election with that. I believe that we will not do that. My belief is that that will not be an election commitment of this side of the house in the lead-up to the next election. But it will be up to the party room to decide whether that is or is not the case. What I have made it clear is that — Mr R.H. Cook : You’re the minister and the Deputy Premier. Can’t you make a commitment on behalf of the government? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not going to commit this government beyond this current term of government. Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
Dr K.D. HAMES : There is no wider agenda. Let me make clear again what I have said before. That is, where we are constructing new hospitals, such as Fiona Stanley Hospital and Midland hospital, the option is open for government to consider contracting out services, as it has. The same applied for Busselton and Albany. In Albany, we chose not to. The public servants provided a submission that was accepted as being the best. However, for newly constructed hospitals, separate from existing hospitals, we will not do so. I made it clear that for our existing hospitals—Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Royal Perth Hospital, Fremantle Hospital or the existing secondary hospitals—we would not seek to contract out services. If we decided to do so, we would make it clear prior to the next election that that was something we intended to do and we would go to the election with that. I believe that we will not do that. My belief is that that will not be an election commitment of this side of the house in the lead-up to the next election. But it will be up to the party room to decide whether that is or is not the case. What I have made it clear is that — Mr R.H. Cook : You’re the minister and the Deputy Premier. Can’t you make a commitment on behalf of the government? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not going to commit this government beyond this current term of government. Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
Mr R.H. Cook : You’re the minister and the Deputy Premier. Can’t you make a commitment on behalf of the government? Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not going to commit this government beyond this current term of government. Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not going to commit this government beyond this current term of government. Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
Mr R.H. Cook : Have a chat to him. He should have an idea. Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I think that the Premier probably does have a good idea, but we will make that determination prior to the next term of government—if we are successful. And we will make it clear in the same way that we will make clear any other policy that we have before going to an election. As I have said, I cannot commit a future government, because even if I am a part of that government, that future government of this state will set its own agenda. For this term of government, while I am minister, I do not intend to proceed further than I have already stated. Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
Mr R.H. Cook : If you don’t have any plans, you should have no objections to a no-privatisation clause. Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
Dr K.D. HAMES : Ask a supplementary question.
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