❓ Mr. Cook questions the Minister for Health regarding the privatisation of services at Fiona Stanley Hospital, specifically requesting the tabling of the business case. The Minister confirms a business case exists but refuses to table it, citing confidentiality and past practices.
AnsweredQoN 46Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FIONA STANLEY HOSPITAL — services PRIVATISATION
I refer to the government’s desire to privatise services at Fiona Stanley Hospital. (1) Has the Department of Health or the Department of Treasury and Finance presented the minister with a business case for the privatisation of services at this hospital? (2) Will the minister commit to tabling a business case prior to any sign-off on a contract, likely to be with Serco? (3) If no to (2), why will the minister not table this information? (4) If no to (2), how can the minister justify proper process and management of this privatisation by the government if a business case is yet to be produced? Dr K.D. HAMES
I refer to the government’s desire to privatise services at Fiona Stanley Hospital. (1) Has the Department of Health or the Department of Treasury and Finance presented the minister with a business case for the privatisation of services at this hospital? (2) Will the minister commit to tabling a business case prior to any sign-off on a contract, likely to be with Serco? (3) If no to (2), why will the minister not table this information? (4) If no to (2), how can the minister justify proper process and management of this privatisation by the government if a business case is yet to be produced? Dr K.D. HAMES
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(4) I will say about this development that there are remarkable similarities with the development of a new hospital in South Australia. There are also very strong similarities with developments being undertaken in other states. It was very interesting when I recently spoke to the South Australian Minister for Health to discover the similarities in the paths we are following for the contracting out—not privatisation—of components of the services that will be managed through the new Fiona Stanley Hospital. As I have said quite clearly in the past, this will be a public hospital, staffed by the government and run by the government, but with backroom services—including catering and orderly management—managed by the private sector. As occurs in any business development, there are intense negotiations being undertaken by a team of dedicated people working within both the Department of Health and the Department of Treasury and Finance to make sure that we go through the business case and all the issues that are required. Mr R.H. Cook : So you have one. Will you table it? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, of course we have one; that is inevitable, and no, I will not table it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Extraordinary. Let me get this clear: you are refusing to table the business case. Will you notify the Auditor General? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : If I were to go to the South Australian Minister for Health and ask him whether he would publish his business case and confidential details, I am sure he would say exactly what I am saying; nor did the previous Western Australian Labor government publish any of the detailed negotiations it held when it contracted services out to the private sector.
(1) Has the Department of Health or the Department of Treasury and Finance presented the minister with a business case for the privatisation of services at this hospital? (2) Will the minister commit to tabling a business case prior to any sign-off on a contract, likely to be with Serco? (3) If no to (2), why will the minister not table this information? (4) If no to (2), how can the minister justify proper process and management of this privatisation by the government if a business case is yet to be produced? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(4) I will say about this development that there are remarkable similarities with the development of a new hospital in South Australia. There are also very strong similarities with developments being undertaken in other states. It was very interesting when I recently spoke to the South Australian Minister for Health to discover the similarities in the paths we are following for the contracting out—not privatisation—of components of the services that will be managed through the new Fiona Stanley Hospital. As I have said quite clearly in the past, this will be a public hospital, staffed by the government and run by the government, but with backroom services—including catering and orderly management—managed by the private sector. As occurs in any business development, there are intense negotiations being undertaken by a team of dedicated people working within both the Department of Health and the Department of Treasury and Finance to make sure that we go through the business case and all the issues that are required. Mr R.H. Cook : So you have one. Will you table it? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, of course we have one; that is inevitable, and no, I will not table it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Extraordinary. Let me get this clear: you are refusing to table the business case. Will you notify the Auditor General? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : If I were to go to the South Australian Minister for Health and ask him whether he would publish his business case and confidential details, I am sure he would say exactly what I am saying; nor did the previous Western Australian Labor government publish any of the detailed negotiations it held when it contracted services out to the private sector.
(2) Will the minister commit to tabling a business case prior to any sign-off on a contract, likely to be with Serco? (3) If no to (2), why will the minister not table this information? (4) If no to (2), how can the minister justify proper process and management of this privatisation by the government if a business case is yet to be produced? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(4) I will say about this development that there are remarkable similarities with the development of a new hospital in South Australia. There are also very strong similarities with developments being undertaken in other states. It was very interesting when I recently spoke to the South Australian Minister for Health to discover the similarities in the paths we are following for the contracting out—not privatisation—of components of the services that will be managed through the new Fiona Stanley Hospital. As I have said quite clearly in the past, this will be a public hospital, staffed by the government and run by the government, but with backroom services—including catering and orderly management—managed by the private sector. As occurs in any business development, there are intense negotiations being undertaken by a team of dedicated people working within both the Department of Health and the Department of Treasury and Finance to make sure that we go through the business case and all the issues that are required. Mr R.H. Cook : So you have one. Will you table it? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, of course we have one; that is inevitable, and no, I will not table it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Extraordinary. Let me get this clear: you are refusing to table the business case. Will you notify the Auditor General? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : If I were to go to the South Australian Minister for Health and ask him whether he would publish his business case and confidential details, I am sure he would say exactly what I am saying; nor did the previous Western Australian Labor government publish any of the detailed negotiations it held when it contracted services out to the private sector.
(3) If no to (2), why will the minister not table this information? (4) If no to (2), how can the minister justify proper process and management of this privatisation by the government if a business case is yet to be produced? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(4) I will say about this development that there are remarkable similarities with the development of a new hospital in South Australia. There are also very strong similarities with developments being undertaken in other states. It was very interesting when I recently spoke to the South Australian Minister for Health to discover the similarities in the paths we are following for the contracting out—not privatisation—of components of the services that will be managed through the new Fiona Stanley Hospital. As I have said quite clearly in the past, this will be a public hospital, staffed by the government and run by the government, but with backroom services—including catering and orderly management—managed by the private sector. As occurs in any business development, there are intense negotiations being undertaken by a team of dedicated people working within both the Department of Health and the Department of Treasury and Finance to make sure that we go through the business case and all the issues that are required. Mr R.H. Cook : So you have one. Will you table it? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, of course we have one; that is inevitable, and no, I will not table it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Extraordinary. Let me get this clear: you are refusing to table the business case. Will you notify the Auditor General? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : If I were to go to the South Australian Minister for Health and ask him whether he would publish his business case and confidential details, I am sure he would say exactly what I am saying; nor did the previous Western Australian Labor government publish any of the detailed negotiations it held when it contracted services out to the private sector.
(4) If no to (2), how can the minister justify proper process and management of this privatisation by the government if a business case is yet to be produced? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(4) I will say about this development that there are remarkable similarities with the development of a new hospital in South Australia. There are also very strong similarities with developments being undertaken in other states. It was very interesting when I recently spoke to the South Australian Minister for Health to discover the similarities in the paths we are following for the contracting out—not privatisation—of components of the services that will be managed through the new Fiona Stanley Hospital. As I have said quite clearly in the past, this will be a public hospital, staffed by the government and run by the government, but with backroom services—including catering and orderly management—managed by the private sector. As occurs in any business development, there are intense negotiations being undertaken by a team of dedicated people working within both the Department of Health and the Department of Treasury and Finance to make sure that we go through the business case and all the issues that are required. Mr R.H. Cook : So you have one. Will you table it? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, of course we have one; that is inevitable, and no, I will not table it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Extraordinary. Let me get this clear: you are refusing to table the business case. Will you notify the Auditor General? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : If I were to go to the South Australian Minister for Health and ask him whether he would publish his business case and confidential details, I am sure he would say exactly what I am saying; nor did the previous Western Australian Labor government publish any of the detailed negotiations it held when it contracted services out to the private sector.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(4) I will say about this development that there are remarkable similarities with the development of a new hospital in South Australia. There are also very strong similarities with developments being undertaken in other states. It was very interesting when I recently spoke to the South Australian Minister for Health to discover the similarities in the paths we are following for the contracting out—not privatisation—of components of the services that will be managed through the new Fiona Stanley Hospital. As I have said quite clearly in the past, this will be a public hospital, staffed by the government and run by the government, but with backroom services—including catering and orderly management—managed by the private sector. As occurs in any business development, there are intense negotiations being undertaken by a team of dedicated people working within both the Department of Health and the Department of Treasury and Finance to make sure that we go through the business case and all the issues that are required. Mr R.H. Cook : So you have one. Will you table it? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, of course we have one; that is inevitable, and no, I will not table it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Extraordinary. Let me get this clear: you are refusing to table the business case. Will you notify the Auditor General? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : If I were to go to the South Australian Minister for Health and ask him whether he would publish his business case and confidential details, I am sure he would say exactly what I am saying; nor did the previous Western Australian Labor government publish any of the detailed negotiations it held when it contracted services out to the private sector.
(1)–(4) I will say about this development that there are remarkable similarities with the development of a new hospital in South Australia. There are also very strong similarities with developments being undertaken in other states. It was very interesting when I recently spoke to the South Australian Minister for Health to discover the similarities in the paths we are following for the contracting out—not privatisation—of components of the services that will be managed through the new Fiona Stanley Hospital. As I have said quite clearly in the past, this will be a public hospital, staffed by the government and run by the government, but with backroom services—including catering and orderly management—managed by the private sector. As occurs in any business development, there are intense negotiations being undertaken by a team of dedicated people working within both the Department of Health and the Department of Treasury and Finance to make sure that we go through the business case and all the issues that are required. Mr R.H. Cook : So you have one. Will you table it? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, of course we have one; that is inevitable, and no, I will not table it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Extraordinary. Let me get this clear: you are refusing to table the business case. Will you notify the Auditor General? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : If I were to go to the South Australian Minister for Health and ask him whether he would publish his business case and confidential details, I am sure he would say exactly what I am saying; nor did the previous Western Australian Labor government publish any of the detailed negotiations it held when it contracted services out to the private sector.
Mr R.H. Cook : So you have one. Will you table it? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, of course we have one; that is inevitable, and no, I will not table it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Extraordinary. Let me get this clear: you are refusing to table the business case. Will you notify the Auditor General? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : If I were to go to the South Australian Minister for Health and ask him whether he would publish his business case and confidential details, I am sure he would say exactly what I am saying; nor did the previous Western Australian Labor government publish any of the detailed negotiations it held when it contracted services out to the private sector.
Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, of course we have one; that is inevitable, and no, I will not table it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Extraordinary. Let me get this clear: you are refusing to table the business case. Will you notify the Auditor General? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : If I were to go to the South Australian Minister for Health and ask him whether he would publish his business case and confidential details, I am sure he would say exactly what I am saying; nor did the previous Western Australian Labor government publish any of the detailed negotiations it held when it contracted services out to the private sector.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Extraordinary. Let me get this clear: you are refusing to table the business case. Will you notify the Auditor General? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : If I were to go to the South Australian Minister for Health and ask him whether he would publish his business case and confidential details, I am sure he would say exactly what I am saying; nor did the previous Western Australian Labor government publish any of the detailed negotiations it held when it contracted services out to the private sector.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : If I were to go to the South Australian Minister for Health and ask him whether he would publish his business case and confidential details, I am sure he would say exactly what I am saying; nor did the previous Western Australian Labor government publish any of the detailed negotiations it held when it contracted services out to the private sector.
Dr K.D. HAMES : If I were to go to the South Australian Minister for Health and ask him whether he would publish his business case and confidential details, I am sure he would say exactly what I am saying; nor did the previous Western Australian Labor government publish any of the detailed negotiations it held when it contracted services out to the private sector.
(1) Has the Department of Health or the Department of Treasury and Finance presented the minister with a business case for the privatisation of services at this hospital? (2) Will the minister commit to tabling a business case prior to any sign-off on a contract, likely to be with Serco? (3) If no to (2), why will the minister not table this information? (4) If no to (2), how can the minister justify proper process and management of this privatisation by the government if a business case is yet to be produced? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(4) I will say about this development that there are remarkable similarities with the development of a new hospital in South Australia. There are also very strong similarities with developments being undertaken in other states. It was very interesting when I recently spoke to the South Australian Minister for Health to discover the similarities in the paths we are following for the contracting out—not privatisation—of components of the services that will be managed through the new Fiona Stanley Hospital. As I have said quite clearly in the past, this will be a public hospital, staffed by the government and run by the government, but with backroom services—including catering and orderly management—managed by the private sector. As occurs in any business development, there are intense negotiations being undertaken by a team of dedicated people working within both the Department of Health and the Department of Treasury and Finance to make sure that we go through the business case and all the issues that are required. Mr R.H. Cook : So you have one. Will you table it? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, of course we have one; that is inevitable, and no, I will not table it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Extraordinary. Let me get this clear: you are refusing to table the business case. Will you notify the Auditor General? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : If I were to go to the South Australian Minister for Health and ask him whether he would publish his business case and confidential details, I am sure he would say exactly what I am saying; nor did the previous Western Australian Labor government publish any of the detailed negotiations it held when it contracted services out to the private sector.
(2) Will the minister commit to tabling a business case prior to any sign-off on a contract, likely to be with Serco? (3) If no to (2), why will the minister not table this information? (4) If no to (2), how can the minister justify proper process and management of this privatisation by the government if a business case is yet to be produced? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(4) I will say about this development that there are remarkable similarities with the development of a new hospital in South Australia. There are also very strong similarities with developments being undertaken in other states. It was very interesting when I recently spoke to the South Australian Minister for Health to discover the similarities in the paths we are following for the contracting out—not privatisation—of components of the services that will be managed through the new Fiona Stanley Hospital. As I have said quite clearly in the past, this will be a public hospital, staffed by the government and run by the government, but with backroom services—including catering and orderly management—managed by the private sector. As occurs in any business development, there are intense negotiations being undertaken by a team of dedicated people working within both the Department of Health and the Department of Treasury and Finance to make sure that we go through the business case and all the issues that are required. Mr R.H. Cook : So you have one. Will you table it? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, of course we have one; that is inevitable, and no, I will not table it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Extraordinary. Let me get this clear: you are refusing to table the business case. Will you notify the Auditor General? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : If I were to go to the South Australian Minister for Health and ask him whether he would publish his business case and confidential details, I am sure he would say exactly what I am saying; nor did the previous Western Australian Labor government publish any of the detailed negotiations it held when it contracted services out to the private sector.
(3) If no to (2), why will the minister not table this information? (4) If no to (2), how can the minister justify proper process and management of this privatisation by the government if a business case is yet to be produced? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(4) I will say about this development that there are remarkable similarities with the development of a new hospital in South Australia. There are also very strong similarities with developments being undertaken in other states. It was very interesting when I recently spoke to the South Australian Minister for Health to discover the similarities in the paths we are following for the contracting out—not privatisation—of components of the services that will be managed through the new Fiona Stanley Hospital. As I have said quite clearly in the past, this will be a public hospital, staffed by the government and run by the government, but with backroom services—including catering and orderly management—managed by the private sector. As occurs in any business development, there are intense negotiations being undertaken by a team of dedicated people working within both the Department of Health and the Department of Treasury and Finance to make sure that we go through the business case and all the issues that are required. Mr R.H. Cook : So you have one. Will you table it? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, of course we have one; that is inevitable, and no, I will not table it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Extraordinary. Let me get this clear: you are refusing to table the business case. Will you notify the Auditor General? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : If I were to go to the South Australian Minister for Health and ask him whether he would publish his business case and confidential details, I am sure he would say exactly what I am saying; nor did the previous Western Australian Labor government publish any of the detailed negotiations it held when it contracted services out to the private sector.
(4) If no to (2), how can the minister justify proper process and management of this privatisation by the government if a business case is yet to be produced? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(4) I will say about this development that there are remarkable similarities with the development of a new hospital in South Australia. There are also very strong similarities with developments being undertaken in other states. It was very interesting when I recently spoke to the South Australian Minister for Health to discover the similarities in the paths we are following for the contracting out—not privatisation—of components of the services that will be managed through the new Fiona Stanley Hospital. As I have said quite clearly in the past, this will be a public hospital, staffed by the government and run by the government, but with backroom services—including catering and orderly management—managed by the private sector. As occurs in any business development, there are intense negotiations being undertaken by a team of dedicated people working within both the Department of Health and the Department of Treasury and Finance to make sure that we go through the business case and all the issues that are required. Mr R.H. Cook : So you have one. Will you table it? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, of course we have one; that is inevitable, and no, I will not table it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Extraordinary. Let me get this clear: you are refusing to table the business case. Will you notify the Auditor General? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : If I were to go to the South Australian Minister for Health and ask him whether he would publish his business case and confidential details, I am sure he would say exactly what I am saying; nor did the previous Western Australian Labor government publish any of the detailed negotiations it held when it contracted services out to the private sector.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(4) I will say about this development that there are remarkable similarities with the development of a new hospital in South Australia. There are also very strong similarities with developments being undertaken in other states. It was very interesting when I recently spoke to the South Australian Minister for Health to discover the similarities in the paths we are following for the contracting out—not privatisation—of components of the services that will be managed through the new Fiona Stanley Hospital. As I have said quite clearly in the past, this will be a public hospital, staffed by the government and run by the government, but with backroom services—including catering and orderly management—managed by the private sector. As occurs in any business development, there are intense negotiations being undertaken by a team of dedicated people working within both the Department of Health and the Department of Treasury and Finance to make sure that we go through the business case and all the issues that are required. Mr R.H. Cook : So you have one. Will you table it? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, of course we have one; that is inevitable, and no, I will not table it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Extraordinary. Let me get this clear: you are refusing to table the business case. Will you notify the Auditor General? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : If I were to go to the South Australian Minister for Health and ask him whether he would publish his business case and confidential details, I am sure he would say exactly what I am saying; nor did the previous Western Australian Labor government publish any of the detailed negotiations it held when it contracted services out to the private sector.
(1)–(4) I will say about this development that there are remarkable similarities with the development of a new hospital in South Australia. There are also very strong similarities with developments being undertaken in other states. It was very interesting when I recently spoke to the South Australian Minister for Health to discover the similarities in the paths we are following for the contracting out—not privatisation—of components of the services that will be managed through the new Fiona Stanley Hospital. As I have said quite clearly in the past, this will be a public hospital, staffed by the government and run by the government, but with backroom services—including catering and orderly management—managed by the private sector. As occurs in any business development, there are intense negotiations being undertaken by a team of dedicated people working within both the Department of Health and the Department of Treasury and Finance to make sure that we go through the business case and all the issues that are required. Mr R.H. Cook : So you have one. Will you table it? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, of course we have one; that is inevitable, and no, I will not table it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Extraordinary. Let me get this clear: you are refusing to table the business case. Will you notify the Auditor General? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : If I were to go to the South Australian Minister for Health and ask him whether he would publish his business case and confidential details, I am sure he would say exactly what I am saying; nor did the previous Western Australian Labor government publish any of the detailed negotiations it held when it contracted services out to the private sector.
Mr R.H. Cook : So you have one. Will you table it? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, of course we have one; that is inevitable, and no, I will not table it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Extraordinary. Let me get this clear: you are refusing to table the business case. Will you notify the Auditor General? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : If I were to go to the South Australian Minister for Health and ask him whether he would publish his business case and confidential details, I am sure he would say exactly what I am saying; nor did the previous Western Australian Labor government publish any of the detailed negotiations it held when it contracted services out to the private sector.
Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, of course we have one; that is inevitable, and no, I will not table it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Extraordinary. Let me get this clear: you are refusing to table the business case. Will you notify the Auditor General? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : If I were to go to the South Australian Minister for Health and ask him whether he would publish his business case and confidential details, I am sure he would say exactly what I am saying; nor did the previous Western Australian Labor government publish any of the detailed negotiations it held when it contracted services out to the private sector.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Extraordinary. Let me get this clear: you are refusing to table the business case. Will you notify the Auditor General? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : If I were to go to the South Australian Minister for Health and ask him whether he would publish his business case and confidential details, I am sure he would say exactly what I am saying; nor did the previous Western Australian Labor government publish any of the detailed negotiations it held when it contracted services out to the private sector.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : If I were to go to the South Australian Minister for Health and ask him whether he would publish his business case and confidential details, I am sure he would say exactly what I am saying; nor did the previous Western Australian Labor government publish any of the detailed negotiations it held when it contracted services out to the private sector.
Dr K.D. HAMES : If I were to go to the South Australian Minister for Health and ask him whether he would publish his business case and confidential details, I am sure he would say exactly what I am saying; nor did the previous Western Australian Labor government publish any of the detailed negotiations it held when it contracted services out to the private sector.
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