❓ Opposition questions Premier on handling of fraud allegations within WAACCHO and accountability of previous Health Minister. Premier defends government's actions, highlighting referral to police and funding withdrawal due to concerns about health outcomes.
AnsweredQoN 903Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the Premier to the announcement made yesterday by the Minister for Health that the Western Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation will no longer be funded by the State Government following the referral of allegations of fraud and corruption within the organisation to the Police Service. (1) Given that the Minister for Health considers the allegations serious enough to withdraw all funding from WAACCHO, does the Premier also consider the matter serious enough to investigate the conduct of the previous Minister for Health in failing to deal appropriately with the allegations? (2) If not, does the Premier concede that his promise of accountability and openness in government is unable to withstand even the most fundamental of tests? Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) That is an appalling question. The question indicates that the Leader of the Opposition has done no research on this subject whatsoever. First of all, allegations of illegality have been referred to the Police Service. I repeat that they have been referred to the Police Service by the Government of Western Australia. Secondly, I refer the Leader of the Opposition to yesterday’s press release by the Minister for Health, which deals with funding for the Western Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. The Minister for Health has made it absolutely clear that he was not convinced that the people of Western Australia were receiving a proper health outcome from that expenditure. He is committed to making sure that when money is spent in health, it goes directly to providing health outcomes for Western Australians. He is withdrawing funding from that organisation. With regard to the action of the former Minister for Health in making sure the matter was referred to the police and the actions of the current Minister for Health in de-funding the organisation, the accountability of my Government remains very firm. Where does the member for Darling Range stand on this issue? Where did the Court Government stand on this issue? It did nothing, which will be demonstrated when we debate this matter today.
(1) Given that the Minister for Health considers the allegations serious enough to withdraw all funding from WAACCHO, does the Premier also consider the matter serious enough to investigate the conduct of the previous Minister for Health in failing to deal appropriately with the allegations? (2) If not, does the Premier concede that his promise of accountability and openness in government is unable to withstand even the most fundamental of tests? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) That is an appalling question. The question indicates that the Leader of the Opposition has done no research on this subject whatsoever. First of all, allegations of illegality have been referred to the Police Service. I repeat that they have been referred to the Police Service by the Government of Western Australia. Secondly, I refer the Leader of the Opposition to yesterday’s press release by the Minister for Health, which deals with funding for the Western Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. The Minister for Health has made it absolutely clear that he was not convinced that the people of Western Australia were receiving a proper health outcome from that expenditure. He is committed to making sure that when money is spent in health, it goes directly to providing health outcomes for Western Australians. He is withdrawing funding from that organisation. With regard to the action of the former Minister for Health in making sure the matter was referred to the police and the actions of the current Minister for Health in de-funding the organisation, the accountability of my Government remains very firm. Where does the member for Darling Range stand on this issue? Where did the Court Government stand on this issue? It did nothing, which will be demonstrated when we debate this matter today.
(2) If not, does the Premier concede that his promise of accountability and openness in government is unable to withstand even the most fundamental of tests? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) That is an appalling question. The question indicates that the Leader of the Opposition has done no research on this subject whatsoever. First of all, allegations of illegality have been referred to the Police Service. I repeat that they have been referred to the Police Service by the Government of Western Australia. Secondly, I refer the Leader of the Opposition to yesterday’s press release by the Minister for Health, which deals with funding for the Western Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. The Minister for Health has made it absolutely clear that he was not convinced that the people of Western Australia were receiving a proper health outcome from that expenditure. He is committed to making sure that when money is spent in health, it goes directly to providing health outcomes for Western Australians. He is withdrawing funding from that organisation. With regard to the action of the former Minister for Health in making sure the matter was referred to the police and the actions of the current Minister for Health in de-funding the organisation, the accountability of my Government remains very firm. Where does the member for Darling Range stand on this issue? Where did the Court Government stand on this issue? It did nothing, which will be demonstrated when we debate this matter today.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) That is an appalling question. The question indicates that the Leader of the Opposition has done no research on this subject whatsoever. First of all, allegations of illegality have been referred to the Police Service. I repeat that they have been referred to the Police Service by the Government of Western Australia. Secondly, I refer the Leader of the Opposition to yesterday’s press release by the Minister for Health, which deals with funding for the Western Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. The Minister for Health has made it absolutely clear that he was not convinced that the people of Western Australia were receiving a proper health outcome from that expenditure. He is committed to making sure that when money is spent in health, it goes directly to providing health outcomes for Western Australians. He is withdrawing funding from that organisation. With regard to the action of the former Minister for Health in making sure the matter was referred to the police and the actions of the current Minister for Health in de-funding the organisation, the accountability of my Government remains very firm. Where does the member for Darling Range stand on this issue? Where did the Court Government stand on this issue? It did nothing, which will be demonstrated when we debate this matter today.
(1)-(2) That is an appalling question. The question indicates that the Leader of the Opposition has done no research on this subject whatsoever. First of all, allegations of illegality have been referred to the Police Service. I repeat that they have been referred to the Police Service by the Government of Western Australia. Secondly, I refer the Leader of the Opposition to yesterday’s press release by the Minister for Health, which deals with funding for the Western Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. The Minister for Health has made it absolutely clear that he was not convinced that the people of Western Australia were receiving a proper health outcome from that expenditure. He is committed to making sure that when money is spent in health, it goes directly to providing health outcomes for Western Australians. He is withdrawing funding from that organisation. With regard to the action of the former Minister for Health in making sure the matter was referred to the police and the actions of the current Minister for Health in de-funding the organisation, the accountability of my Government remains very firm. Where does the member for Darling Range stand on this issue? Where did the Court Government stand on this issue? It did nothing, which will be demonstrated when we debate this matter today.
(1) Given that the Minister for Health considers the allegations serious enough to withdraw all funding from WAACCHO, does the Premier also consider the matter serious enough to investigate the conduct of the previous Minister for Health in failing to deal appropriately with the allegations? (2) If not, does the Premier concede that his promise of accountability and openness in government is unable to withstand even the most fundamental of tests? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) That is an appalling question. The question indicates that the Leader of the Opposition has done no research on this subject whatsoever. First of all, allegations of illegality have been referred to the Police Service. I repeat that they have been referred to the Police Service by the Government of Western Australia. Secondly, I refer the Leader of the Opposition to yesterday’s press release by the Minister for Health, which deals with funding for the Western Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. The Minister for Health has made it absolutely clear that he was not convinced that the people of Western Australia were receiving a proper health outcome from that expenditure. He is committed to making sure that when money is spent in health, it goes directly to providing health outcomes for Western Australians. He is withdrawing funding from that organisation. With regard to the action of the former Minister for Health in making sure the matter was referred to the police and the actions of the current Minister for Health in de-funding the organisation, the accountability of my Government remains very firm. Where does the member for Darling Range stand on this issue? Where did the Court Government stand on this issue? It did nothing, which will be demonstrated when we debate this matter today.
(2) If not, does the Premier concede that his promise of accountability and openness in government is unable to withstand even the most fundamental of tests? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) That is an appalling question. The question indicates that the Leader of the Opposition has done no research on this subject whatsoever. First of all, allegations of illegality have been referred to the Police Service. I repeat that they have been referred to the Police Service by the Government of Western Australia. Secondly, I refer the Leader of the Opposition to yesterday’s press release by the Minister for Health, which deals with funding for the Western Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. The Minister for Health has made it absolutely clear that he was not convinced that the people of Western Australia were receiving a proper health outcome from that expenditure. He is committed to making sure that when money is spent in health, it goes directly to providing health outcomes for Western Australians. He is withdrawing funding from that organisation. With regard to the action of the former Minister for Health in making sure the matter was referred to the police and the actions of the current Minister for Health in de-funding the organisation, the accountability of my Government remains very firm. Where does the member for Darling Range stand on this issue? Where did the Court Government stand on this issue? It did nothing, which will be demonstrated when we debate this matter today.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) That is an appalling question. The question indicates that the Leader of the Opposition has done no research on this subject whatsoever. First of all, allegations of illegality have been referred to the Police Service. I repeat that they have been referred to the Police Service by the Government of Western Australia. Secondly, I refer the Leader of the Opposition to yesterday’s press release by the Minister for Health, which deals with funding for the Western Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. The Minister for Health has made it absolutely clear that he was not convinced that the people of Western Australia were receiving a proper health outcome from that expenditure. He is committed to making sure that when money is spent in health, it goes directly to providing health outcomes for Western Australians. He is withdrawing funding from that organisation. With regard to the action of the former Minister for Health in making sure the matter was referred to the police and the actions of the current Minister for Health in de-funding the organisation, the accountability of my Government remains very firm. Where does the member for Darling Range stand on this issue? Where did the Court Government stand on this issue? It did nothing, which will be demonstrated when we debate this matter today.
(1)-(2) That is an appalling question. The question indicates that the Leader of the Opposition has done no research on this subject whatsoever. First of all, allegations of illegality have been referred to the Police Service. I repeat that they have been referred to the Police Service by the Government of Western Australia. Secondly, I refer the Leader of the Opposition to yesterday’s press release by the Minister for Health, which deals with funding for the Western Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. The Minister for Health has made it absolutely clear that he was not convinced that the people of Western Australia were receiving a proper health outcome from that expenditure. He is committed to making sure that when money is spent in health, it goes directly to providing health outcomes for Western Australians. He is withdrawing funding from that organisation. With regard to the action of the former Minister for Health in making sure the matter was referred to the police and the actions of the current Minister for Health in de-funding the organisation, the accountability of my Government remains very firm. Where does the member for Darling Range stand on this issue? Where did the Court Government stand on this issue? It did nothing, which will be demonstrated when we debate this matter today.
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