❓ Mr. Cook questions the Minister for Health regarding the timeline of knowledge about delays to the Fiona Stanley Hospital completion. The Minister defends his previous statements, citing conflicting advice from department officials.
AnsweredQoN 372Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FIONA STANLEY HOSPITAL — COMPLETION DATE
372. Mr R.H. COOK to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the revelation that senior bureaucrats within the
minister's department knew at least by November 2012 that Fiona Stanley
Hospital would be delayed by at least a year.
(1) When did the minister first find out that Fiona Stanley
Hospital would be delayed?
(2) Did the
minister mislead Parliament on 11 June when he stated that he had found out
only within the last few months?
(3) If the
minister did not find out in November 2012 when Department of Health officials
first knew, why were they withholding that information from the minister?
372. Mr R.H. COOK to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the revelation that senior bureaucrats within the
minister's department knew at least by November 2012 that Fiona Stanley
Hospital would be delayed by at least a year.
(1) When did the minister first find out that Fiona Stanley
Hospital would be delayed?
(2) Did the
minister mislead Parliament on 11 June when he stated that he had found out
only within the last few months?
(3) If the
minister did not find out in November 2012 when Department of Health officials
first knew, why were they withholding that information from the minister?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3)
I have read through the transcript of the committee meeting and seen the
questions put forward and the answers given, and I have reflected on the answer
I gave. When did I give it?
Mr R.H. Cook : On
11 June.
Dr
K.D. HAMES : I gave the answer on 11 June and all of those things I said are
correct. Indeed, what one of our officials said to the committee is also
correct. There is a clear explanation for that, even though that might seem
difficult to grasp. In November, the particular officer who made the comments
about the 12 months, and in particular the delay, was put into that position.
When he looked at the proposal and the time lines, his first impression was
that there needed to be a delay.
Mr R.H. Cook : It
was common knowledge throughout the pub.
Dr K.D. HAMES : No,
it was not common knowledge. I will explain. The officer in question put that
proposal to the director general at the time, who did not agree with him. The
director general was of the view that the Department of Health had the capacity
to put in place those systems so that we could still have the opening time in
April. Not only that, but subsequent to the election, he made it known to me
that in his view it would not be delayed.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Dr K.D. HAMES :
Subsequently, in March, I was informed by the acting director general at the
time that a delay was required.
Mr R.H. Cook : That's
a bit convenient.
Dr K.D. HAMES : We
have that on record, so the member can seek those records himself. It is
recorded.
Mr R.H. Cook : I
certainly will.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I
expect the member to. It is there in the records that I was informed in March
this year that it was the case that a delay was required. That is what I said.
Mr W.J. Johnston :
What date in March?
Dr
K.D. HAMES : It is in the records. Opposition members will see and I am sure
the opposition will FOI the records. It is in the records for members to see. I
do not recall the exact date.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr M. McGowan : You
table the documents.
Dr
K.D. HAMES : If the opposition seeks them, I will give them. That is the
answer. I knew in March that it was delayed. I was advised leading up to that
date, indeed after the election, by the director general of the time that the
officer who made that point to the committee was concerned that there would be
a delay.
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan!
Dr
K.D. HAMES : However, his view was that that particular officer had the
capacity to put together a team to still make the outcome 1 April 2014.
An opposition member interjected.
Dr
K.D. HAMES : It is true; have a look.
I have read through the transcript of the committee meeting and seen the
questions put forward and the answers given, and I have reflected on the answer
I gave. When did I give it?
Mr R.H. Cook : On
11 June.
Dr
K.D. HAMES : I gave the answer on 11 June and all of those things I said are
correct. Indeed, what one of our officials said to the committee is also
correct. There is a clear explanation for that, even though that might seem
difficult to grasp. In November, the particular officer who made the comments
about the 12 months, and in particular the delay, was put into that position.
When he looked at the proposal and the time lines, his first impression was
that there needed to be a delay.
Mr R.H. Cook : It
was common knowledge throughout the pub.
Dr K.D. HAMES : No,
it was not common knowledge. I will explain. The officer in question put that
proposal to the director general at the time, who did not agree with him. The
director general was of the view that the Department of Health had the capacity
to put in place those systems so that we could still have the opening time in
April. Not only that, but subsequent to the election, he made it known to me
that in his view it would not be delayed.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Dr K.D. HAMES :
Subsequently, in March, I was informed by the acting director general at the
time that a delay was required.
Mr R.H. Cook : That's
a bit convenient.
Dr K.D. HAMES : We
have that on record, so the member can seek those records himself. It is
recorded.
Mr R.H. Cook : I
certainly will.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I
expect the member to. It is there in the records that I was informed in March
this year that it was the case that a delay was required. That is what I said.
Mr W.J. Johnston :
What date in March?
Dr
K.D. HAMES : It is in the records. Opposition members will see and I am sure
the opposition will FOI the records. It is in the records for members to see. I
do not recall the exact date.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr M. McGowan : You
table the documents.
Dr
K.D. HAMES : If the opposition seeks them, I will give them. That is the
answer. I knew in March that it was delayed. I was advised leading up to that
date, indeed after the election, by the director general of the time that the
officer who made that point to the committee was concerned that there would be
a delay.
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan!
Dr
K.D. HAMES : However, his view was that that particular officer had the
capacity to put together a team to still make the outcome 1 April 2014.
An opposition member interjected.
Dr
K.D. HAMES : It is true; have a look.
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