❓ A parliamentary question addresses the confidentiality of the Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee's deliberations and findings, particularly regarding access for parents and other bodies. The Minister clarifies the legal basis for confidentiality under the Health Act 1911.
AnsweredQoN 614Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Why are the deliberations of the Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee confidential? (2) Does the Minister for Health receive a copy of the committee’s reports? (3) Is this information passed to the Child Death Review Committee? (4) Will the minister explain to the Parliament why parents of babies who are the subject of an inquiry do not receive a copy of the findings of the committee? Hon SUE ELLERY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee is established under the Health Act 1911. The act protects all information collected and discussed by the committee from all inquiries, whether from private citizens, the police or the courts, and for use in any manner other than by the committee. The act also forbids the investigator and committee members from disclosing any information provided to them through the work of the committee. Section 336A(4) of the act states - . . . all information, records of interviews, reports, statements, memoranda or other particulars obtained by the investigator during an investigation made by him pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be confidential and shall not be communicated or divulged, either in whole or in part, to any person other than the Chairman of the Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee . . . The committee investigates selected cases in order to identify systemic faults and/or clinical error in the interest of improving the delivery of health care in Western Australia. It is both a requirement of the act and necessary to ensure open disclosure that the proceedings of this committee are confidential. (2)-(3) No. (4) The parents do not receive a copy of the findings of the committee. The release of such information is prohibited under the confidentiality provisions of the Health Act 1911, as outlined in the response to (1). However, parents are supported throughout the period and provided with relevant information by health service staff.
(2) Does the Minister for Health receive a copy of the committee’s reports? (3) Is this information passed to the Child Death Review Committee? (4) Will the minister explain to the Parliament why parents of babies who are the subject of an inquiry do not receive a copy of the findings of the committee? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee is established under the Health Act 1911. The act protects all information collected and discussed by the committee from all inquiries, whether from private citizens, the police or the courts, and for use in any manner other than by the committee. The act also forbids the investigator and committee members from disclosing any information provided to them through the work of the committee. Section 336A(4) of the act states - . . . all information, records of interviews, reports, statements, memoranda or other particulars obtained by the investigator during an investigation made by him pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be confidential and shall not be communicated or divulged, either in whole or in part, to any person other than the Chairman of the Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee . . . The committee investigates selected cases in order to identify systemic faults and/or clinical error in the interest of improving the delivery of health care in Western Australia. It is both a requirement of the act and necessary to ensure open disclosure that the proceedings of this committee are confidential. (2)-(3) No. (4) The parents do not receive a copy of the findings of the committee. The release of such information is prohibited under the confidentiality provisions of the Health Act 1911, as outlined in the response to (1). However, parents are supported throughout the period and provided with relevant information by health service staff.
(3) Is this information passed to the Child Death Review Committee? (4) Will the minister explain to the Parliament why parents of babies who are the subject of an inquiry do not receive a copy of the findings of the committee? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee is established under the Health Act 1911. The act protects all information collected and discussed by the committee from all inquiries, whether from private citizens, the police or the courts, and for use in any manner other than by the committee. The act also forbids the investigator and committee members from disclosing any information provided to them through the work of the committee. Section 336A(4) of the act states - . . . all information, records of interviews, reports, statements, memoranda or other particulars obtained by the investigator during an investigation made by him pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be confidential and shall not be communicated or divulged, either in whole or in part, to any person other than the Chairman of the Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee . . . The committee investigates selected cases in order to identify systemic faults and/or clinical error in the interest of improving the delivery of health care in Western Australia. It is both a requirement of the act and necessary to ensure open disclosure that the proceedings of this committee are confidential. (2)-(3) No. (4) The parents do not receive a copy of the findings of the committee. The release of such information is prohibited under the confidentiality provisions of the Health Act 1911, as outlined in the response to (1). However, parents are supported throughout the period and provided with relevant information by health service staff.
(4) Will the minister explain to the Parliament why parents of babies who are the subject of an inquiry do not receive a copy of the findings of the committee? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee is established under the Health Act 1911. The act protects all information collected and discussed by the committee from all inquiries, whether from private citizens, the police or the courts, and for use in any manner other than by the committee. The act also forbids the investigator and committee members from disclosing any information provided to them through the work of the committee. Section 336A(4) of the act states - . . . all information, records of interviews, reports, statements, memoranda or other particulars obtained by the investigator during an investigation made by him pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be confidential and shall not be communicated or divulged, either in whole or in part, to any person other than the Chairman of the Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee . . . The committee investigates selected cases in order to identify systemic faults and/or clinical error in the interest of improving the delivery of health care in Western Australia. It is both a requirement of the act and necessary to ensure open disclosure that the proceedings of this committee are confidential. (2)-(3) No. (4) The parents do not receive a copy of the findings of the committee. The release of such information is prohibited under the confidentiality provisions of the Health Act 1911, as outlined in the response to (1). However, parents are supported throughout the period and provided with relevant information by health service staff.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee is established under the Health Act 1911. The act protects all information collected and discussed by the committee from all inquiries, whether from private citizens, the police or the courts, and for use in any manner other than by the committee. The act also forbids the investigator and committee members from disclosing any information provided to them through the work of the committee. Section 336A(4) of the act states - . . . all information, records of interviews, reports, statements, memoranda or other particulars obtained by the investigator during an investigation made by him pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be confidential and shall not be communicated or divulged, either in whole or in part, to any person other than the Chairman of the Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee . . . The committee investigates selected cases in order to identify systemic faults and/or clinical error in the interest of improving the delivery of health care in Western Australia. It is both a requirement of the act and necessary to ensure open disclosure that the proceedings of this committee are confidential. (2)-(3) No. (4) The parents do not receive a copy of the findings of the committee. The release of such information is prohibited under the confidentiality provisions of the Health Act 1911, as outlined in the response to (1). However, parents are supported throughout the period and provided with relevant information by health service staff.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee is established under the Health Act 1911. The act protects all information collected and discussed by the committee from all inquiries, whether from private citizens, the police or the courts, and for use in any manner other than by the committee. The act also forbids the investigator and committee members from disclosing any information provided to them through the work of the committee. Section 336A(4) of the act states - . . . all information, records of interviews, reports, statements, memoranda or other particulars obtained by the investigator during an investigation made by him pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be confidential and shall not be communicated or divulged, either in whole or in part, to any person other than the Chairman of the Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee . . . The committee investigates selected cases in order to identify systemic faults and/or clinical error in the interest of improving the delivery of health care in Western Australia. It is both a requirement of the act and necessary to ensure open disclosure that the proceedings of this committee are confidential. (2)-(3) No. (4) The parents do not receive a copy of the findings of the committee. The release of such information is prohibited under the confidentiality provisions of the Health Act 1911, as outlined in the response to (1). However, parents are supported throughout the period and provided with relevant information by health service staff.
(1) The Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee is established under the Health Act 1911. The act protects all information collected and discussed by the committee from all inquiries, whether from private citizens, the police or the courts, and for use in any manner other than by the committee. The act also forbids the investigator and committee members from disclosing any information provided to them through the work of the committee. Section 336A(4) of the act states - . . . all information, records of interviews, reports, statements, memoranda or other particulars obtained by the investigator during an investigation made by him pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be confidential and shall not be communicated or divulged, either in whole or in part, to any person other than the Chairman of the Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee . . . The committee investigates selected cases in order to identify systemic faults and/or clinical error in the interest of improving the delivery of health care in Western Australia. It is both a requirement of the act and necessary to ensure open disclosure that the proceedings of this committee are confidential. (2)-(3) No. (4) The parents do not receive a copy of the findings of the committee. The release of such information is prohibited under the confidentiality provisions of the Health Act 1911, as outlined in the response to (1). However, parents are supported throughout the period and provided with relevant information by health service staff.
(4) The parents do not receive a copy of the findings of the committee. The release of such information is prohibited under the confidentiality provisions of the Health Act 1911, as outlined in the response to (1). However, parents are supported throughout the period and provided with relevant information by health service staff.
(2) Does the Minister for Health receive a copy of the committee’s reports? (3) Is this information passed to the Child Death Review Committee? (4) Will the minister explain to the Parliament why parents of babies who are the subject of an inquiry do not receive a copy of the findings of the committee? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee is established under the Health Act 1911. The act protects all information collected and discussed by the committee from all inquiries, whether from private citizens, the police or the courts, and for use in any manner other than by the committee. The act also forbids the investigator and committee members from disclosing any information provided to them through the work of the committee. Section 336A(4) of the act states - . . . all information, records of interviews, reports, statements, memoranda or other particulars obtained by the investigator during an investigation made by him pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be confidential and shall not be communicated or divulged, either in whole or in part, to any person other than the Chairman of the Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee . . . The committee investigates selected cases in order to identify systemic faults and/or clinical error in the interest of improving the delivery of health care in Western Australia. It is both a requirement of the act and necessary to ensure open disclosure that the proceedings of this committee are confidential. (2)-(3) No. (4) The parents do not receive a copy of the findings of the committee. The release of such information is prohibited under the confidentiality provisions of the Health Act 1911, as outlined in the response to (1). However, parents are supported throughout the period and provided with relevant information by health service staff.
(3) Is this information passed to the Child Death Review Committee? (4) Will the minister explain to the Parliament why parents of babies who are the subject of an inquiry do not receive a copy of the findings of the committee? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee is established under the Health Act 1911. The act protects all information collected and discussed by the committee from all inquiries, whether from private citizens, the police or the courts, and for use in any manner other than by the committee. The act also forbids the investigator and committee members from disclosing any information provided to them through the work of the committee. Section 336A(4) of the act states - . . . all information, records of interviews, reports, statements, memoranda or other particulars obtained by the investigator during an investigation made by him pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be confidential and shall not be communicated or divulged, either in whole or in part, to any person other than the Chairman of the Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee . . . The committee investigates selected cases in order to identify systemic faults and/or clinical error in the interest of improving the delivery of health care in Western Australia. It is both a requirement of the act and necessary to ensure open disclosure that the proceedings of this committee are confidential. (2)-(3) No. (4) The parents do not receive a copy of the findings of the committee. The release of such information is prohibited under the confidentiality provisions of the Health Act 1911, as outlined in the response to (1). However, parents are supported throughout the period and provided with relevant information by health service staff.
(4) Will the minister explain to the Parliament why parents of babies who are the subject of an inquiry do not receive a copy of the findings of the committee? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee is established under the Health Act 1911. The act protects all information collected and discussed by the committee from all inquiries, whether from private citizens, the police or the courts, and for use in any manner other than by the committee. The act also forbids the investigator and committee members from disclosing any information provided to them through the work of the committee. Section 336A(4) of the act states - . . . all information, records of interviews, reports, statements, memoranda or other particulars obtained by the investigator during an investigation made by him pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be confidential and shall not be communicated or divulged, either in whole or in part, to any person other than the Chairman of the Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee . . . The committee investigates selected cases in order to identify systemic faults and/or clinical error in the interest of improving the delivery of health care in Western Australia. It is both a requirement of the act and necessary to ensure open disclosure that the proceedings of this committee are confidential. (2)-(3) No. (4) The parents do not receive a copy of the findings of the committee. The release of such information is prohibited under the confidentiality provisions of the Health Act 1911, as outlined in the response to (1). However, parents are supported throughout the period and provided with relevant information by health service staff.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee is established under the Health Act 1911. The act protects all information collected and discussed by the committee from all inquiries, whether from private citizens, the police or the courts, and for use in any manner other than by the committee. The act also forbids the investigator and committee members from disclosing any information provided to them through the work of the committee. Section 336A(4) of the act states - . . . all information, records of interviews, reports, statements, memoranda or other particulars obtained by the investigator during an investigation made by him pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be confidential and shall not be communicated or divulged, either in whole or in part, to any person other than the Chairman of the Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee . . . The committee investigates selected cases in order to identify systemic faults and/or clinical error in the interest of improving the delivery of health care in Western Australia. It is both a requirement of the act and necessary to ensure open disclosure that the proceedings of this committee are confidential. (2)-(3) No. (4) The parents do not receive a copy of the findings of the committee. The release of such information is prohibited under the confidentiality provisions of the Health Act 1911, as outlined in the response to (1). However, parents are supported throughout the period and provided with relevant information by health service staff.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee is established under the Health Act 1911. The act protects all information collected and discussed by the committee from all inquiries, whether from private citizens, the police or the courts, and for use in any manner other than by the committee. The act also forbids the investigator and committee members from disclosing any information provided to them through the work of the committee. Section 336A(4) of the act states - . . . all information, records of interviews, reports, statements, memoranda or other particulars obtained by the investigator during an investigation made by him pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be confidential and shall not be communicated or divulged, either in whole or in part, to any person other than the Chairman of the Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee . . . The committee investigates selected cases in order to identify systemic faults and/or clinical error in the interest of improving the delivery of health care in Western Australia. It is both a requirement of the act and necessary to ensure open disclosure that the proceedings of this committee are confidential. (2)-(3) No. (4) The parents do not receive a copy of the findings of the committee. The release of such information is prohibited under the confidentiality provisions of the Health Act 1911, as outlined in the response to (1). However, parents are supported throughout the period and provided with relevant information by health service staff.
(1) The Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee is established under the Health Act 1911. The act protects all information collected and discussed by the committee from all inquiries, whether from private citizens, the police or the courts, and for use in any manner other than by the committee. The act also forbids the investigator and committee members from disclosing any information provided to them through the work of the committee. Section 336A(4) of the act states - . . . all information, records of interviews, reports, statements, memoranda or other particulars obtained by the investigator during an investigation made by him pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be confidential and shall not be communicated or divulged, either in whole or in part, to any person other than the Chairman of the Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee . . . The committee investigates selected cases in order to identify systemic faults and/or clinical error in the interest of improving the delivery of health care in Western Australia. It is both a requirement of the act and necessary to ensure open disclosure that the proceedings of this committee are confidential. (2)-(3) No. (4) The parents do not receive a copy of the findings of the committee. The release of such information is prohibited under the confidentiality provisions of the Health Act 1911, as outlined in the response to (1). However, parents are supported throughout the period and provided with relevant information by health service staff.
(4) The parents do not receive a copy of the findings of the committee. The release of such information is prohibited under the confidentiality provisions of the Health Act 1911, as outlined in the response to (1). However, parents are supported throughout the period and provided with relevant information by health service staff.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.