❓ Dr. Constable questions the Minister for Health about the lack of free ambulance transport for pensioners in WA compared to other states. The Minister acknowledges the differences and states that the issue will be considered during upcoming contract negotiations with St John Ambulance.
AnsweredQoN 1087Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is the minister aware that pensioners in other States receive free ambulance transport? (2) Will he explain why pensioners in this State are denied that free facility? (3) Will the minister, as a matter of urgency, correct this inequity and grant Western Australian pensioners a free ambulance service to bring them in line with pensioners in other parts of Australia? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) I am aware that various financial arrangements operate in the other States of Australia, including the imposition of a levy similar to the Fire and Emergency Services Authority levy introduced in this State. In many other States, the ambulance service is part of the government health service. The practice is variable. Why have we denied pensioners free travel in ambulances in this State? This derives historically from the way the ambulance service entered into contracts with successive Governments. This Government is in the process of beginning negotiations for the next five-year contract. The current contract expires, from memory, in the middle of next year. In the lead-up to the expiry of that contract, a new contract will be negotiated with St John Ambulance. The Government will ensure it achieves the best service delivery for the money provided to St John. Given the early stages of discussion on the contract, I am unable to inform the member of the situation at this stage. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Congratulations, grandad! Mr J.A. McGinty: Thank you.
(2) Will he explain why pensioners in this State are denied that free facility? (3) Will the minister, as a matter of urgency, correct this inequity and grant Western Australian pensioners a free ambulance service to bring them in line with pensioners in other parts of Australia? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I am aware that various financial arrangements operate in the other States of Australia, including the imposition of a levy similar to the Fire and Emergency Services Authority levy introduced in this State. In many other States, the ambulance service is part of the government health service. The practice is variable. Why have we denied pensioners free travel in ambulances in this State? This derives historically from the way the ambulance service entered into contracts with successive Governments. This Government is in the process of beginning negotiations for the next five-year contract. The current contract expires, from memory, in the middle of next year. In the lead-up to the expiry of that contract, a new contract will be negotiated with St John Ambulance. The Government will ensure it achieves the best service delivery for the money provided to St John. Given the early stages of discussion on the contract, I am unable to inform the member of the situation at this stage. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Congratulations, grandad! Mr J.A. McGinty: Thank you.
(3) Will the minister, as a matter of urgency, correct this inequity and grant Western Australian pensioners a free ambulance service to bring them in line with pensioners in other parts of Australia? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I am aware that various financial arrangements operate in the other States of Australia, including the imposition of a levy similar to the Fire and Emergency Services Authority levy introduced in this State. In many other States, the ambulance service is part of the government health service. The practice is variable. Why have we denied pensioners free travel in ambulances in this State? This derives historically from the way the ambulance service entered into contracts with successive Governments. This Government is in the process of beginning negotiations for the next five-year contract. The current contract expires, from memory, in the middle of next year. In the lead-up to the expiry of that contract, a new contract will be negotiated with St John Ambulance. The Government will ensure it achieves the best service delivery for the money provided to St John. Given the early stages of discussion on the contract, I am unable to inform the member of the situation at this stage. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Congratulations, grandad! Mr J.A. McGinty: Thank you.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I am aware that various financial arrangements operate in the other States of Australia, including the imposition of a levy similar to the Fire and Emergency Services Authority levy introduced in this State. In many other States, the ambulance service is part of the government health service. The practice is variable. Why have we denied pensioners free travel in ambulances in this State? This derives historically from the way the ambulance service entered into contracts with successive Governments. This Government is in the process of beginning negotiations for the next five-year contract. The current contract expires, from memory, in the middle of next year. In the lead-up to the expiry of that contract, a new contract will be negotiated with St John Ambulance. The Government will ensure it achieves the best service delivery for the money provided to St John. Given the early stages of discussion on the contract, I am unable to inform the member of the situation at this stage. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Congratulations, grandad! Mr J.A. McGinty: Thank you.
(1)-(3) I am aware that various financial arrangements operate in the other States of Australia, including the imposition of a levy similar to the Fire and Emergency Services Authority levy introduced in this State. In many other States, the ambulance service is part of the government health service. The practice is variable. Why have we denied pensioners free travel in ambulances in this State? This derives historically from the way the ambulance service entered into contracts with successive Governments. This Government is in the process of beginning negotiations for the next five-year contract. The current contract expires, from memory, in the middle of next year. In the lead-up to the expiry of that contract, a new contract will be negotiated with St John Ambulance. The Government will ensure it achieves the best service delivery for the money provided to St John. Given the early stages of discussion on the contract, I am unable to inform the member of the situation at this stage. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Congratulations, grandad! Mr J.A. McGinty: Thank you.
Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Congratulations, grandad! Mr J.A. McGinty: Thank you.
Mr J.A. McGinty: Thank you.
(2) Will he explain why pensioners in this State are denied that free facility? (3) Will the minister, as a matter of urgency, correct this inequity and grant Western Australian pensioners a free ambulance service to bring them in line with pensioners in other parts of Australia? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I am aware that various financial arrangements operate in the other States of Australia, including the imposition of a levy similar to the Fire and Emergency Services Authority levy introduced in this State. In many other States, the ambulance service is part of the government health service. The practice is variable. Why have we denied pensioners free travel in ambulances in this State? This derives historically from the way the ambulance service entered into contracts with successive Governments. This Government is in the process of beginning negotiations for the next five-year contract. The current contract expires, from memory, in the middle of next year. In the lead-up to the expiry of that contract, a new contract will be negotiated with St John Ambulance. The Government will ensure it achieves the best service delivery for the money provided to St John. Given the early stages of discussion on the contract, I am unable to inform the member of the situation at this stage. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Congratulations, grandad! Mr J.A. McGinty: Thank you.
(3) Will the minister, as a matter of urgency, correct this inequity and grant Western Australian pensioners a free ambulance service to bring them in line with pensioners in other parts of Australia? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I am aware that various financial arrangements operate in the other States of Australia, including the imposition of a levy similar to the Fire and Emergency Services Authority levy introduced in this State. In many other States, the ambulance service is part of the government health service. The practice is variable. Why have we denied pensioners free travel in ambulances in this State? This derives historically from the way the ambulance service entered into contracts with successive Governments. This Government is in the process of beginning negotiations for the next five-year contract. The current contract expires, from memory, in the middle of next year. In the lead-up to the expiry of that contract, a new contract will be negotiated with St John Ambulance. The Government will ensure it achieves the best service delivery for the money provided to St John. Given the early stages of discussion on the contract, I am unable to inform the member of the situation at this stage. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Congratulations, grandad! Mr J.A. McGinty: Thank you.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I am aware that various financial arrangements operate in the other States of Australia, including the imposition of a levy similar to the Fire and Emergency Services Authority levy introduced in this State. In many other States, the ambulance service is part of the government health service. The practice is variable. Why have we denied pensioners free travel in ambulances in this State? This derives historically from the way the ambulance service entered into contracts with successive Governments. This Government is in the process of beginning negotiations for the next five-year contract. The current contract expires, from memory, in the middle of next year. In the lead-up to the expiry of that contract, a new contract will be negotiated with St John Ambulance. The Government will ensure it achieves the best service delivery for the money provided to St John. Given the early stages of discussion on the contract, I am unable to inform the member of the situation at this stage. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Congratulations, grandad! Mr J.A. McGinty: Thank you.
(1)-(3) I am aware that various financial arrangements operate in the other States of Australia, including the imposition of a levy similar to the Fire and Emergency Services Authority levy introduced in this State. In many other States, the ambulance service is part of the government health service. The practice is variable. Why have we denied pensioners free travel in ambulances in this State? This derives historically from the way the ambulance service entered into contracts with successive Governments. This Government is in the process of beginning negotiations for the next five-year contract. The current contract expires, from memory, in the middle of next year. In the lead-up to the expiry of that contract, a new contract will be negotiated with St John Ambulance. The Government will ensure it achieves the best service delivery for the money provided to St John. Given the early stages of discussion on the contract, I am unable to inform the member of the situation at this stage. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Congratulations, grandad! Mr J.A. McGinty: Thank you.
Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Congratulations, grandad! Mr J.A. McGinty: Thank you.
Mr J.A. McGinty: Thank you.
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