❓ Hon. Anthony Fels asks the Minister for Health about the investigation into salary packaging irregularities within the Department of Health, specifically regarding communication with external agencies and the scope of internal investigations. The Minister was unable to provide an answer at the time.
AnsweredQoN 137Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SALARY PACKAGING — INVESTIGATION 137. Hon ANTHONY FELS to the minister representing the Minister for Health: In a letter to staff on 20 November 2008 about the salary packaging issue, the Director General indicated that given the serious nature of this conduct, a number of external agencies, including the Corruption and Crime Commission, the Australian Taxation Office and the WA Police have been informed. A thorough audit and investigation of the suspect claims is underway. I ask — (1) Has the director general or any of his staff briefed any of these organisations; and, if so, which ones? Please table any correspondence or summary of correspondence including emails, phone calls and letters between the director general and these organisations in which he informs them of the salary packaging issue. (2) Are all three organisations conducting investigations? (3) Which department has priority or primacy in these investigations? (4) Is the Western Australia health department conducting an investigation; and if so, what are the terms of reference for the audit and investigation as stated in the letter of 20 November 2008? (5) With reference to a second letter that has been sent to some hospital staff about the health department investigation: how many of these letters have been sent? (6) Please outline the criteria used to determine who received the second letter and who did not. The PRESIDENT : This question seems to relate to the health portfolio and therefore the Minister for Transport would respond on behalf of the Minister for Health; however, the minister may not have an answer. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN
AnswerView source ↗
Regrettably, I do not seem to have an answer. If one becomes available, I shall report to the house.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SALARY PACKAGING — INVESTIGATION
In a letter to staff on 20 November 2008 about the salary packaging issue, the Director General indicated that given the serious nature of this conduct, a number of external agencies, including the Corruption and Crime Commission, the Australian Taxation Office and the WA Police have been informed. A thorough audit and investigation of the suspect claims is underway. I ask — (1) Has the director general or any of his staff briefed any of these organisations; and, if so, which ones? Please table any correspondence or summary of correspondence including emails, phone calls and letters between the director general and these organisations in which he informs them of the salary packaging issue. (2) Are all three organisations conducting investigations? (3) Which department has priority or primacy in these investigations? (4) Is the Western Australia health department conducting an investigation; and if so, what are the terms of reference for the audit and investigation as stated in the letter of 20 November 2008? (5) With reference to a second letter that has been sent to some hospital staff about the health department investigation: how many of these letters have been sent? (6) Please outline the criteria used to determine who received the second letter and who did not. The PRESIDENT : This question seems to relate to the health portfolio and therefore the Minister for Transport would respond on behalf of the Minister for Health; however, the minister may not have an answer. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: Regrettably, I do not seem to have an answer. If one becomes available, I shall report to the house.
I ask — (1) Has the director general or any of his staff briefed any of these organisations; and, if so, which ones? Please table any correspondence or summary of correspondence including emails, phone calls and letters between the director general and these organisations in which he informs them of the salary packaging issue. (2) Are all three organisations conducting investigations? (3) Which department has priority or primacy in these investigations? (4) Is the Western Australia health department conducting an investigation; and if so, what are the terms of reference for the audit and investigation as stated in the letter of 20 November 2008? (5) With reference to a second letter that has been sent to some hospital staff about the health department investigation: how many of these letters have been sent? (6) Please outline the criteria used to determine who received the second letter and who did not. The PRESIDENT : This question seems to relate to the health portfolio and therefore the Minister for Transport would respond on behalf of the Minister for Health; however, the minister may not have an answer. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: Regrettably, I do not seem to have an answer. If one becomes available, I shall report to the house.
(1) Has the director general or any of his staff briefed any of these organisations; and, if so, which ones? Please table any correspondence or summary of correspondence including emails, phone calls and letters between the director general and these organisations in which he informs them of the salary packaging issue. (2) Are all three organisations conducting investigations? (3) Which department has priority or primacy in these investigations? (4) Is the Western Australia health department conducting an investigation; and if so, what are the terms of reference for the audit and investigation as stated in the letter of 20 November 2008? (5) With reference to a second letter that has been sent to some hospital staff about the health department investigation: how many of these letters have been sent? (6) Please outline the criteria used to determine who received the second letter and who did not. The PRESIDENT : This question seems to relate to the health portfolio and therefore the Minister for Transport would respond on behalf of the Minister for Health; however, the minister may not have an answer. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: Regrettably, I do not seem to have an answer. If one becomes available, I shall report to the house.
(2) Are all three organisations conducting investigations? (3) Which department has priority or primacy in these investigations? (4) Is the Western Australia health department conducting an investigation; and if so, what are the terms of reference for the audit and investigation as stated in the letter of 20 November 2008? (5) With reference to a second letter that has been sent to some hospital staff about the health department investigation: how many of these letters have been sent? (6) Please outline the criteria used to determine who received the second letter and who did not. The PRESIDENT : This question seems to relate to the health portfolio and therefore the Minister for Transport would respond on behalf of the Minister for Health; however, the minister may not have an answer. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: Regrettably, I do not seem to have an answer. If one becomes available, I shall report to the house.
(3) Which department has priority or primacy in these investigations? (4) Is the Western Australia health department conducting an investigation; and if so, what are the terms of reference for the audit and investigation as stated in the letter of 20 November 2008? (5) With reference to a second letter that has been sent to some hospital staff about the health department investigation: how many of these letters have been sent? (6) Please outline the criteria used to determine who received the second letter and who did not. The PRESIDENT : This question seems to relate to the health portfolio and therefore the Minister for Transport would respond on behalf of the Minister for Health; however, the minister may not have an answer. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: Regrettably, I do not seem to have an answer. If one becomes available, I shall report to the house.
(4) Is the Western Australia health department conducting an investigation; and if so, what are the terms of reference for the audit and investigation as stated in the letter of 20 November 2008? (5) With reference to a second letter that has been sent to some hospital staff about the health department investigation: how many of these letters have been sent? (6) Please outline the criteria used to determine who received the second letter and who did not. The PRESIDENT : This question seems to relate to the health portfolio and therefore the Minister for Transport would respond on behalf of the Minister for Health; however, the minister may not have an answer. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: Regrettably, I do not seem to have an answer. If one becomes available, I shall report to the house.
(5) With reference to a second letter that has been sent to some hospital staff about the health department investigation: how many of these letters have been sent? (6) Please outline the criteria used to determine who received the second letter and who did not. The PRESIDENT : This question seems to relate to the health portfolio and therefore the Minister for Transport would respond on behalf of the Minister for Health; however, the minister may not have an answer. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: Regrettably, I do not seem to have an answer. If one becomes available, I shall report to the house.
(6) Please outline the criteria used to determine who received the second letter and who did not. The PRESIDENT : This question seems to relate to the health portfolio and therefore the Minister for Transport would respond on behalf of the Minister for Health; however, the minister may not have an answer. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: Regrettably, I do not seem to have an answer. If one becomes available, I shall report to the house.
The PRESIDENT : This question seems to relate to the health portfolio and therefore the Minister for Transport would respond on behalf of the Minister for Health; however, the minister may not have an answer. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: Regrettably, I do not seem to have an answer. If one becomes available, I shall report to the house.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: Regrettably, I do not seem to have an answer. If one becomes available, I shall report to the house.
Regrettably, I do not seem to have an answer. If one becomes available, I shall report to the house.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SALARY PACKAGING — INVESTIGATION
In a letter to staff on 20 November 2008 about the salary packaging issue, the Director General indicated that given the serious nature of this conduct, a number of external agencies, including the Corruption and Crime Commission, the Australian Taxation Office and the WA Police have been informed. A thorough audit and investigation of the suspect claims is underway. I ask — (1) Has the director general or any of his staff briefed any of these organisations; and, if so, which ones? Please table any correspondence or summary of correspondence including emails, phone calls and letters between the director general and these organisations in which he informs them of the salary packaging issue. (2) Are all three organisations conducting investigations? (3) Which department has priority or primacy in these investigations? (4) Is the Western Australia health department conducting an investigation; and if so, what are the terms of reference for the audit and investigation as stated in the letter of 20 November 2008? (5) With reference to a second letter that has been sent to some hospital staff about the health department investigation: how many of these letters have been sent? (6) Please outline the criteria used to determine who received the second letter and who did not. The PRESIDENT : This question seems to relate to the health portfolio and therefore the Minister for Transport would respond on behalf of the Minister for Health; however, the minister may not have an answer. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: Regrettably, I do not seem to have an answer. If one becomes available, I shall report to the house.
I ask — (1) Has the director general or any of his staff briefed any of these organisations; and, if so, which ones? Please table any correspondence or summary of correspondence including emails, phone calls and letters between the director general and these organisations in which he informs them of the salary packaging issue. (2) Are all three organisations conducting investigations? (3) Which department has priority or primacy in these investigations? (4) Is the Western Australia health department conducting an investigation; and if so, what are the terms of reference for the audit and investigation as stated in the letter of 20 November 2008? (5) With reference to a second letter that has been sent to some hospital staff about the health department investigation: how many of these letters have been sent? (6) Please outline the criteria used to determine who received the second letter and who did not. The PRESIDENT : This question seems to relate to the health portfolio and therefore the Minister for Transport would respond on behalf of the Minister for Health; however, the minister may not have an answer. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: Regrettably, I do not seem to have an answer. If one becomes available, I shall report to the house.
(1) Has the director general or any of his staff briefed any of these organisations; and, if so, which ones? Please table any correspondence or summary of correspondence including emails, phone calls and letters between the director general and these organisations in which he informs them of the salary packaging issue. (2) Are all three organisations conducting investigations? (3) Which department has priority or primacy in these investigations? (4) Is the Western Australia health department conducting an investigation; and if so, what are the terms of reference for the audit and investigation as stated in the letter of 20 November 2008? (5) With reference to a second letter that has been sent to some hospital staff about the health department investigation: how many of these letters have been sent? (6) Please outline the criteria used to determine who received the second letter and who did not. The PRESIDENT : This question seems to relate to the health portfolio and therefore the Minister for Transport would respond on behalf of the Minister for Health; however, the minister may not have an answer. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: Regrettably, I do not seem to have an answer. If one becomes available, I shall report to the house.
(2) Are all three organisations conducting investigations? (3) Which department has priority or primacy in these investigations? (4) Is the Western Australia health department conducting an investigation; and if so, what are the terms of reference for the audit and investigation as stated in the letter of 20 November 2008? (5) With reference to a second letter that has been sent to some hospital staff about the health department investigation: how many of these letters have been sent? (6) Please outline the criteria used to determine who received the second letter and who did not. The PRESIDENT : This question seems to relate to the health portfolio and therefore the Minister for Transport would respond on behalf of the Minister for Health; however, the minister may not have an answer. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: Regrettably, I do not seem to have an answer. If one becomes available, I shall report to the house.
(3) Which department has priority or primacy in these investigations? (4) Is the Western Australia health department conducting an investigation; and if so, what are the terms of reference for the audit and investigation as stated in the letter of 20 November 2008? (5) With reference to a second letter that has been sent to some hospital staff about the health department investigation: how many of these letters have been sent? (6) Please outline the criteria used to determine who received the second letter and who did not. The PRESIDENT : This question seems to relate to the health portfolio and therefore the Minister for Transport would respond on behalf of the Minister for Health; however, the minister may not have an answer. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: Regrettably, I do not seem to have an answer. If one becomes available, I shall report to the house.
(4) Is the Western Australia health department conducting an investigation; and if so, what are the terms of reference for the audit and investigation as stated in the letter of 20 November 2008? (5) With reference to a second letter that has been sent to some hospital staff about the health department investigation: how many of these letters have been sent? (6) Please outline the criteria used to determine who received the second letter and who did not. The PRESIDENT : This question seems to relate to the health portfolio and therefore the Minister for Transport would respond on behalf of the Minister for Health; however, the minister may not have an answer. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: Regrettably, I do not seem to have an answer. If one becomes available, I shall report to the house.
(5) With reference to a second letter that has been sent to some hospital staff about the health department investigation: how many of these letters have been sent? (6) Please outline the criteria used to determine who received the second letter and who did not. The PRESIDENT : This question seems to relate to the health portfolio and therefore the Minister for Transport would respond on behalf of the Minister for Health; however, the minister may not have an answer. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: Regrettably, I do not seem to have an answer. If one becomes available, I shall report to the house.
(6) Please outline the criteria used to determine who received the second letter and who did not. The PRESIDENT : This question seems to relate to the health portfolio and therefore the Minister for Transport would respond on behalf of the Minister for Health; however, the minister may not have an answer. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: Regrettably, I do not seem to have an answer. If one becomes available, I shall report to the house.
The PRESIDENT : This question seems to relate to the health portfolio and therefore the Minister for Transport would respond on behalf of the Minister for Health; however, the minister may not have an answer. Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: Regrettably, I do not seem to have an answer. If one becomes available, I shall report to the house.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: Regrettably, I do not seem to have an answer. If one becomes available, I shall report to the house.
Regrettably, I do not seem to have an answer. If one becomes available, I shall report to the house.
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