❓ Mr. Cook questions the Minister for Health regarding potential job losses at Fiona Stanley Hospital, accusing the Minister of constructing ignorance. The Minister refutes the claim, citing budget improvements and efficiency gains.
AnsweredQoN 1030Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH — STAFFING — FIONA STANLEY HOSPITAL —
PAUL MARK'S COMMENTS
1030. Mr R.H. COOK to the Minister for
Health:
I have a supplementary question. How
can the minister rule out more than 400 job losses at Fiona Stanley Hospital
but say that he has not been informed about a specific number of job losses? Is
this just another case of him constructing ignorance in the same way he did
about the delays at Fiona Stanley Hospital?
PAUL MARK'S COMMENTS
1030. Mr R.H. COOK to the Minister for
Health:
I have a supplementary question. How
can the minister rule out more than 400 job losses at Fiona Stanley Hospital
but say that he has not been informed about a specific number of job losses? Is
this just another case of him constructing ignorance in the same way he did
about the delays at Fiona Stanley Hospital?
AnswerView source ↗
Five minutes ago, it was 500 people;
now the member has changed it to 400. He should make up his mind how many it
is. I know it cannot be that many because I know what the average cost of staff
is. Why does the member not listen?
Mr
R.H. Cook interjected.
The
SPEAKER : I just want to tell you now that you have asked a question; you
are going to get an answer. If you are going to shout the minister down, I am
going to call you to order. You might not like the answer, but you will get the
answer.
Dr
K.D. HAMES : I know it is not that number because we know, from discussions
in Parliament recently, the total amount that the south metropolitan area is
currently over budget. In fact, it is improving all the time. Just in the last
month, it has shaved about $25 million off that. It has got a way to go, but it
is doing it. It has done that without the reduction in FTEs by having more
efficiency within the system. That is why I do not know the number. But if we
extrapolate the numbers to the average cost, we know that it can be nowhere
near the amount that the member is talking about.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : That question is finished.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Kwinana, I call you to order for the second time and,
Minister for Health, for the first time.
Mr
R.H. Cook interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Kwinana, if you want to have a rest, just carry on.
now the member has changed it to 400. He should make up his mind how many it
is. I know it cannot be that many because I know what the average cost of staff
is. Why does the member not listen?
Mr
R.H. Cook interjected.
The
SPEAKER : I just want to tell you now that you have asked a question; you
are going to get an answer. If you are going to shout the minister down, I am
going to call you to order. You might not like the answer, but you will get the
answer.
Dr
K.D. HAMES : I know it is not that number because we know, from discussions
in Parliament recently, the total amount that the south metropolitan area is
currently over budget. In fact, it is improving all the time. Just in the last
month, it has shaved about $25 million off that. It has got a way to go, but it
is doing it. It has done that without the reduction in FTEs by having more
efficiency within the system. That is why I do not know the number. But if we
extrapolate the numbers to the average cost, we know that it can be nowhere
near the amount that the member is talking about.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : That question is finished.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Kwinana, I call you to order for the second time and,
Minister for Health, for the first time.
Mr
R.H. Cook interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Kwinana, if you want to have a rest, just carry on.
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