❓ Opposition MP Dr. Nahan questions the Minister for Health about legal advice regarding a letter sent to the opposition concerning the Perth Children's Hospital. The Minister denies receiving legal advice and accuses the opposition of mismanaging the project and undermining the state's position in a legal dispute.
AnsweredQoN 638Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PERTH CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL —
MINISTER FOR HEALTH
638. Dr M.D. NAHAN to the Minister for
Health:
Did the minister receive advice from
the State Solicitor's Office about the letter to me dated 2 November
2017, and did that advice indicate that the opposition was jeopardising the
state's position in regard to disputes with John Holland over Perth
Children's Hospital; and, if not, on what basis did the minister make
the request of the opposition to stop holding him to account for his decisions
on the hospital?
MINISTER FOR HEALTH
638. Dr M.D. NAHAN to the Minister for
Health:
Did the minister receive advice from
the State Solicitor's Office about the letter to me dated 2 November
2017, and did that advice indicate that the opposition was jeopardising the
state's position in regard to disputes with John Holland over Perth
Children's Hospital; and, if not, on what basis did the minister make
the request of the opposition to stop holding him to account for his decisions
on the hospital?
AnswerView source ↗
As you know, Mr Speaker, we
canvassed this issue fairly extensively earlier this afternoon, but I am happy
to answer the question from the Leader of the Opposition because I never get
tired of getting up in this place to explain to the people of Western Australia
how badly members opposite managed the children's hospital project when
they were in power and how we are now having to go about the complex task of
fixing up the mess that the previous government provided to the people of Western
Australia, and to me as Minister for Health, in making sure that we get this
much-needed hospital open. The answer to the Leader of the Opposition's
question is no, we did not get legal advice. We sent the opposition a courteous
letter, which treated it with the respect that it clearly does not deserve
given the reaction, to simply ask that the opposition refrain from the language
it is using, because that simply inflames the legal dispute that we obviously
have with the contractor by virtue of the fact that the contractor has
indicated to us that it will be claiming $300 million from us. This was a respectful
and courteous letter to the Leader of the Opposition.
Mrs
L.M. Harvey interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Scarborough!
Mr
R.H. COOK : The opposition has alleged that we have been trying to gag it.
Nothing could be further from the truth. We have asked members opposite to
temper their comments on the granting of practical completion and the source of
lead contamination, as it undermines the contractual and commercial position of
the state. Again, it comes back to this point: whose side is the Leader of the
Opposition on? Is he on the side of the people of Western Australia in this
dispute with the contractor?
Dr M.D. Nahan : We are on the side of truth. Which side are you on?
Mr R.H. COOK : The
government has provided more information and transparency around this project
than anyone in this process to date—certainly more than was provided by
the other side. We have provided the other side with this courteous letter and
with briefings, and we expect members opposite to be respectful and courteous
in response, but that clearly cannot happen because the opposition is not
capable of it.
Mrs
L.M. Harvey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member
for Scarborough, I warned you. I call you to order for the first time.
Mr R.H. COOK : The opposition's response to this
letter has been, quite frankly, false, misleading and disingenuous. I would
quite happily admit to making the odd mistake as the Minister for Health. One
of my mistakes was thinking that we had a bunch of grown-ups on the other side
who could be treated respectfully and would respond like an appropriate and
respectful opposition.
canvassed this issue fairly extensively earlier this afternoon, but I am happy
to answer the question from the Leader of the Opposition because I never get
tired of getting up in this place to explain to the people of Western Australia
how badly members opposite managed the children's hospital project when
they were in power and how we are now having to go about the complex task of
fixing up the mess that the previous government provided to the people of Western
Australia, and to me as Minister for Health, in making sure that we get this
much-needed hospital open. The answer to the Leader of the Opposition's
question is no, we did not get legal advice. We sent the opposition a courteous
letter, which treated it with the respect that it clearly does not deserve
given the reaction, to simply ask that the opposition refrain from the language
it is using, because that simply inflames the legal dispute that we obviously
have with the contractor by virtue of the fact that the contractor has
indicated to us that it will be claiming $300 million from us. This was a respectful
and courteous letter to the Leader of the Opposition.
Mrs
L.M. Harvey interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Scarborough!
Mr
R.H. COOK : The opposition has alleged that we have been trying to gag it.
Nothing could be further from the truth. We have asked members opposite to
temper their comments on the granting of practical completion and the source of
lead contamination, as it undermines the contractual and commercial position of
the state. Again, it comes back to this point: whose side is the Leader of the
Opposition on? Is he on the side of the people of Western Australia in this
dispute with the contractor?
Dr M.D. Nahan : We are on the side of truth. Which side are you on?
Mr R.H. COOK : The
government has provided more information and transparency around this project
than anyone in this process to date—certainly more than was provided by
the other side. We have provided the other side with this courteous letter and
with briefings, and we expect members opposite to be respectful and courteous
in response, but that clearly cannot happen because the opposition is not
capable of it.
Mrs
L.M. Harvey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member
for Scarborough, I warned you. I call you to order for the first time.
Mr R.H. COOK : The opposition's response to this
letter has been, quite frankly, false, misleading and disingenuous. I would
quite happily admit to making the odd mistake as the Minister for Health. One
of my mistakes was thinking that we had a bunch of grown-ups on the other side
who could be treated respectfully and would respond like an appropriate and
respectful opposition.
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