❓ Mr. Cook questions the Minister for Health regarding a report on Fiona Stanley Hospital's commissioning delays and the privatisation of operational services. The Minister denies any negligence and defends the contract's value for money, citing Treasury advice.
AnsweredQoN 270Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FIONA STANLEY HOSPITAL — COMMISSIONING DELAY REPORT
270. Mr R.H. COOK to the
Minister for Health:
I refer to the damning report on the Fiona Stanley Hospital
that was tabled today, which shows that the minister failed to ensure that the
state could meet its contractual obligations with Serco before signing the
contract in 2011, and evidence from the former Under Treasurer Tim Marney that
Treasury had warned him of these same concerns.
(1) Does the
minister now admit that his decision to privatise the operational services at
the hospital has cost the state $118 million?
(2) Does the
minister admit that he was negligent in not satisfying himself in December 2012
that these obligations could be met?
270. Mr R.H. COOK to the
Minister for Health:
I refer to the damning report on the Fiona Stanley Hospital
that was tabled today, which shows that the minister failed to ensure that the
state could meet its contractual obligations with Serco before signing the
contract in 2011, and evidence from the former Under Treasurer Tim Marney that
Treasury had warned him of these same concerns.
(1) Does the
minister now admit that his decision to privatise the operational services at
the hospital has cost the state $118 million?
(2) Does the
minister admit that he was negligent in not satisfying himself in December 2012
that these obligations could be met?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
No, I do not; that will not come as any surprise to the member for Kwinana. I
refer to comments made by the member for Forrestfield in the committee report;
he read out comments from the Kobelke report. We have had two committee reports
on Fiona Stanley Hospital and its contracts, and there was clear evidence read
by the member for Forrestfield in this house about comments by the Under
Treasurer that show quite clearly that Treasury advised the Economic and
Expenditure Reform Committee and cabinet that the Serco contract for Fiona
Stanley Hospital was value for money and something that the government should
sign. I do not hear any mention of that in the opposition's comments.
Mr D.J. Kelly interjected.
Dr
K.D. HAMES : The member should not go on; he —
The SPEAKER :
Member for Bassendean, I call you to order for the first time. I want to remind
a number of members that they are three calls, and if they shout out again,
they will be asked to leave the chamber.
Dr K.D. HAMES :
This is a hopeless opposition; the worst opposition in history, as shown by its
vote. For once Carolyn Smith and I are on the same page. The opposition could
not even organise to jump on Joe Bullock until the day after the release of the
report.
That is how organised Labor members are. Carolyn Smith was
out there —
Several members interjected.
Dr
K.D. HAMES : She is from the United Voice committee.
Carolyn Smith was out there opposing the Serco contract. A
report comes out, Labor members say how bad it is that it dumps on government,
and what happens? She goes out and dumps on Joe Bullock for half an hour! For
half an hour she was outside my window dumping on Joe Bullock and saying that
he should step down. How disorganised are members opposite?
Mr Speaker, this contract is good for government —
Ms J.M. Freeman interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Mirrabooka, you are now on three calls. I call you to order for the
third time. Minister, through the Chair.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I
am finished, Mr Speaker.
No, I do not; that will not come as any surprise to the member for Kwinana. I
refer to comments made by the member for Forrestfield in the committee report;
he read out comments from the Kobelke report. We have had two committee reports
on Fiona Stanley Hospital and its contracts, and there was clear evidence read
by the member for Forrestfield in this house about comments by the Under
Treasurer that show quite clearly that Treasury advised the Economic and
Expenditure Reform Committee and cabinet that the Serco contract for Fiona
Stanley Hospital was value for money and something that the government should
sign. I do not hear any mention of that in the opposition's comments.
Mr D.J. Kelly interjected.
Dr
K.D. HAMES : The member should not go on; he —
The SPEAKER :
Member for Bassendean, I call you to order for the first time. I want to remind
a number of members that they are three calls, and if they shout out again,
they will be asked to leave the chamber.
Dr K.D. HAMES :
This is a hopeless opposition; the worst opposition in history, as shown by its
vote. For once Carolyn Smith and I are on the same page. The opposition could
not even organise to jump on Joe Bullock until the day after the release of the
report.
That is how organised Labor members are. Carolyn Smith was
out there —
Several members interjected.
Dr
K.D. HAMES : She is from the United Voice committee.
Carolyn Smith was out there opposing the Serco contract. A
report comes out, Labor members say how bad it is that it dumps on government,
and what happens? She goes out and dumps on Joe Bullock for half an hour! For
half an hour she was outside my window dumping on Joe Bullock and saying that
he should step down. How disorganised are members opposite?
Mr Speaker, this contract is good for government —
Ms J.M. Freeman interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Mirrabooka, you are now on three calls. I call you to order for the
third time. Minister, through the Chair.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I
am finished, Mr Speaker.
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