❓ Opposition MP Cook questions the Health Minister Hames regarding potential privatisation of services at the new children's hospital after the next election. Minister Hames avoids a categorical denial, stating it's a decision for the government to announce before the election.
AnsweredQoN 143Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
NEW
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL — SERVICE PRIVATISATION
143. Mr R.H. COOK to the Minister for Health:
I refer to comments attributed to the minister on 4 January
that he would not privatise hospital services at the new children's
hospital for the time being.
(1) Does ''the
time being'' mean until the next election when the minister then plans
to privatise services at the new children's hospital?
(2) If no to
(1), will the minister categorically state today that he will not privatise
hospital services or any other aspects of that hospital after the next
election?
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL — SERVICE PRIVATISATION
143. Mr R.H. COOK to the Minister for Health:
I refer to comments attributed to the minister on 4 January
that he would not privatise hospital services at the new children's
hospital for the time being.
(1) Does ''the
time being'' mean until the next election when the minister then plans
to privatise services at the new children's hospital?
(2) If no to
(1), will the minister categorically state today that he will not privatise
hospital services or any other aspects of that hospital after the next
election?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
I have been through this before at length. The member has quoted half of my
statements to this house and not all of them. I will repeat the other half that
I have said publicly and to members before.
Several members interjected.
Mr T.R. Buswell :
They changed their name!
Dr K.D. HAMES : So
have WA Labor! I have never heard of them before.
As I have said before, for this term of government we will
not contract out or privatise, as the member calls it, the services at the new
children's hospital. Although it is not my intention to do that in our
next term of government it is a decision for the Liberal–National
government, or for our individual parties, to put forward their policies prior
to the next election. I am very strongly of the view that it will not be done
in our next term of government either, but it is not up to me in this term of
government as the Minister for Health —
Mr M. McGowan : You're
only a minister and cabinet member!
Dr K.D. HAMES :
That does not matter. It is not up to me during this term of government to make
those types of categorical statements. The Premier, at a time of his choosing
in the lead-up to the next election, will make commitments about what we will
do in the future. What I did say was that I would make sure that if it were our
intention to do that in the next term of government, we would say so before the
next election. There is just under a year to go until the next election. As I
have said, if it is our intention to do that, which I strongly doubt, we will
say so. For the opposition to try to use that to jump to the conclusion that we
are planning to contract out the services of the children's hospital
after the next election is absolutely untrue.
I have been through this before at length. The member has quoted half of my
statements to this house and not all of them. I will repeat the other half that
I have said publicly and to members before.
Several members interjected.
Mr T.R. Buswell :
They changed their name!
Dr K.D. HAMES : So
have WA Labor! I have never heard of them before.
As I have said before, for this term of government we will
not contract out or privatise, as the member calls it, the services at the new
children's hospital. Although it is not my intention to do that in our
next term of government it is a decision for the Liberal–National
government, or for our individual parties, to put forward their policies prior
to the next election. I am very strongly of the view that it will not be done
in our next term of government either, but it is not up to me in this term of
government as the Minister for Health —
Mr M. McGowan : You're
only a minister and cabinet member!
Dr K.D. HAMES :
That does not matter. It is not up to me during this term of government to make
those types of categorical statements. The Premier, at a time of his choosing
in the lead-up to the next election, will make commitments about what we will
do in the future. What I did say was that I would make sure that if it were our
intention to do that in the next term of government, we would say so before the
next election. There is just under a year to go until the next election. As I
have said, if it is our intention to do that, which I strongly doubt, we will
say so. For the opposition to try to use that to jump to the conclusion that we
are planning to contract out the services of the children's hospital
after the next election is absolutely untrue.
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