❓ Mr. Cook questions the Minister for Health regarding additional funding for Fiona Stanley Hospital's IT systems, alleging cost blowouts. The Minister refutes the claims, stating the funding replaces previously reallocated IT budget funds.
AnsweredQoN 370Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FIONA STANLEY HOSPITAL — INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS
370. Mr R.H. COOK to the Minister for
Health:
I refer to the budget papers
indicating that the government will provide a further $40 million to fix the
information and communications technology at Fiona Stanley Hospital, on top of
the already $330 million in cost blowouts at the mismanaged hospital project.
Will the minister guarantee that this will be the last top-up at his botched
hospital project, or, like the minister's promises on Royal Perth
Hospital, is this another one of the minister's hospital fervent hopes?
TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS
370. Mr R.H. COOK to the Minister for
Health:
I refer to the budget papers
indicating that the government will provide a further $40 million to fix the
information and communications technology at Fiona Stanley Hospital, on top of
the already $330 million in cost blowouts at the mismanaged hospital project.
Will the minister guarantee that this will be the last top-up at his botched
hospital project, or, like the minister's promises on Royal Perth
Hospital, is this another one of the minister's hospital fervent hopes?
AnswerView source ↗
Once again, the member for Kwinana is misleading the house.
In the debate on the motion earlier today we heard the member say that I misled
this house and in response I referred, as an example of how the member for
Kwinana misleads the public of Western Australia and this house, to the fact
that he continues to talk about a $300 million-plus blowout, and he is doing it
once again. Once again he is deliberately misleading the house and the people
of Western Australia. I remind members that there was $350 million in the
budget for ICT in this state, a large proportion of which was going to Fiona
Stanley Hospital. I am talking in round figures, because I do not have the
papers here to provide the exact detail, but there was $350 million in the
budget. The member should go back and have a look. Subsequent to that, three or
four years ago, $250 million was taken out of the budget to use for other
purposes, so when we come back to get extra money for ICT for Fiona Stanley
Hospital, it is replacing the money that was taken out. In no way can one class
the replacement of money that was taken out to pay for ICT at the hospital as a
blowout; it is a payback of that money —
Mr R.H. Cook :
Where did you take it out from?
Dr K.D. HAMES : I
do not recall; it was three or four years ago. I think it was something to do
with the children's hospital, from memory, but I do not recall exactly.
Nevertheless, it was an amount that was for ICT, so we are well below the
amount that was allocated in the original budget for ICT, and whatever amount
is required to pay for that, it is what it is. I am not guaranteeing anything;
we need to make sure that the very complex and difficult ICT system that is
required to ensure that Fiona Stanley Hospital works safely for patients who
come through the door, is paid for. We will put up the funds for whatever is
required. That funding goes through the Economic and Expenditure Reform
Committee and cabinet, and is approved as required to make sure we get the job
done properly.
In the debate on the motion earlier today we heard the member say that I misled
this house and in response I referred, as an example of how the member for
Kwinana misleads the public of Western Australia and this house, to the fact
that he continues to talk about a $300 million-plus blowout, and he is doing it
once again. Once again he is deliberately misleading the house and the people
of Western Australia. I remind members that there was $350 million in the
budget for ICT in this state, a large proportion of which was going to Fiona
Stanley Hospital. I am talking in round figures, because I do not have the
papers here to provide the exact detail, but there was $350 million in the
budget. The member should go back and have a look. Subsequent to that, three or
four years ago, $250 million was taken out of the budget to use for other
purposes, so when we come back to get extra money for ICT for Fiona Stanley
Hospital, it is replacing the money that was taken out. In no way can one class
the replacement of money that was taken out to pay for ICT at the hospital as a
blowout; it is a payback of that money —
Mr R.H. Cook :
Where did you take it out from?
Dr K.D. HAMES : I
do not recall; it was three or four years ago. I think it was something to do
with the children's hospital, from memory, but I do not recall exactly.
Nevertheless, it was an amount that was for ICT, so we are well below the
amount that was allocated in the original budget for ICT, and whatever amount
is required to pay for that, it is what it is. I am not guaranteeing anything;
we need to make sure that the very complex and difficult ICT system that is
required to ensure that Fiona Stanley Hospital works safely for patients who
come through the door, is paid for. We will put up the funds for whatever is
required. That funding goes through the Economic and Expenditure Reform
Committee and cabinet, and is approved as required to make sure we get the job
done properly.
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