❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for Regional Development about the potential closure of the Esperance Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) office and seeks assurance of continued funding, particularly from royalties for regions. The Minister defers to the Minister for Health, noting a review is underway and highlighting existing funding for PATS.
AnsweredQoN 790Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ESPERANCE PATIENT ASSISTED TRAVEL SCHEME OFFICE
I refer to the expected closure of the Esperance patient assisted travel scheme—PATS—office. (1) What is the Minister for Regional Development doing to ensure the Esperance PATS office does not close? (2) What is the Minister for Regional Development doing to ensure the Esperance PATS office receives sufficient funding to ensure that it remains open? (3) Does the minister agree that ensuring the continued operation of all PATS offices in Western Australia is an appropriate use of royalties for regions funding? (4) If no to (3), why not? (5) Will the minister undertake to ensure that sufficient royalties for regions funding is allocated to PATS to ensure that the Esperance office remains open? (6) If no to (5), why not? Hon WENDY DUNCAN
I refer to the expected closure of the Esperance patient assisted travel scheme—PATS—office. (1) What is the Minister for Regional Development doing to ensure the Esperance PATS office does not close? (2) What is the Minister for Regional Development doing to ensure the Esperance PATS office receives sufficient funding to ensure that it remains open? (3) Does the minister agree that ensuring the continued operation of all PATS offices in Western Australia is an appropriate use of royalties for regions funding? (4) If no to (3), why not? (5) Will the minister undertake to ensure that sufficient royalties for regions funding is allocated to PATS to ensure that the Esperance office remains open? (6) If no to (5), why not? Hon WENDY DUNCAN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The minister has replied as follows — (1)-(6) The Minister for Health advised the Legislative Assembly on 13 August 2009 that the decision to close the Esperance patient assisted travel scheme office was being reviewed. I understand that this review process is still underway. It should be noted that $30.8 million has been allocated to the patient assisted travel scheme from 2008-09 to 2011-12 through royalties for regions to increase support for country residents needing to travel away from their homes to access specialist medical services.
(1) What is the Minister for Regional Development doing to ensure the Esperance PATS office does not close? (2) What is the Minister for Regional Development doing to ensure the Esperance PATS office receives sufficient funding to ensure that it remains open? (3) Does the minister agree that ensuring the continued operation of all PATS offices in Western Australia is an appropriate use of royalties for regions funding? (4) If no to (3), why not? (5) Will the minister undertake to ensure that sufficient royalties for regions funding is allocated to PATS to ensure that the Esperance office remains open? (6) If no to (5), why not? Hon WENDY DUNCAN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The minister has replied as follows — (1)-(6) The Minister for Health advised the Legislative Assembly on 13 August 2009 that the decision to close the Esperance patient assisted travel scheme office was being reviewed. I understand that this review process is still underway. It should be noted that $30.8 million has been allocated to the patient assisted travel scheme from 2008-09 to 2011-12 through royalties for regions to increase support for country residents needing to travel away from their homes to access specialist medical services.
(2) What is the Minister for Regional Development doing to ensure the Esperance PATS office receives sufficient funding to ensure that it remains open? (3) Does the minister agree that ensuring the continued operation of all PATS offices in Western Australia is an appropriate use of royalties for regions funding? (4) If no to (3), why not? (5) Will the minister undertake to ensure that sufficient royalties for regions funding is allocated to PATS to ensure that the Esperance office remains open? (6) If no to (5), why not? Hon WENDY DUNCAN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The minister has replied as follows — (1)-(6) The Minister for Health advised the Legislative Assembly on 13 August 2009 that the decision to close the Esperance patient assisted travel scheme office was being reviewed. I understand that this review process is still underway. It should be noted that $30.8 million has been allocated to the patient assisted travel scheme from 2008-09 to 2011-12 through royalties for regions to increase support for country residents needing to travel away from their homes to access specialist medical services.
(3) Does the minister agree that ensuring the continued operation of all PATS offices in Western Australia is an appropriate use of royalties for regions funding? (4) If no to (3), why not? (5) Will the minister undertake to ensure that sufficient royalties for regions funding is allocated to PATS to ensure that the Esperance office remains open? (6) If no to (5), why not? Hon WENDY DUNCAN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The minister has replied as follows — (1)-(6) The Minister for Health advised the Legislative Assembly on 13 August 2009 that the decision to close the Esperance patient assisted travel scheme office was being reviewed. I understand that this review process is still underway. It should be noted that $30.8 million has been allocated to the patient assisted travel scheme from 2008-09 to 2011-12 through royalties for regions to increase support for country residents needing to travel away from their homes to access specialist medical services.
(4) If no to (3), why not? (5) Will the minister undertake to ensure that sufficient royalties for regions funding is allocated to PATS to ensure that the Esperance office remains open? (6) If no to (5), why not? Hon WENDY DUNCAN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The minister has replied as follows — (1)-(6) The Minister for Health advised the Legislative Assembly on 13 August 2009 that the decision to close the Esperance patient assisted travel scheme office was being reviewed. I understand that this review process is still underway. It should be noted that $30.8 million has been allocated to the patient assisted travel scheme from 2008-09 to 2011-12 through royalties for regions to increase support for country residents needing to travel away from their homes to access specialist medical services.
(5) Will the minister undertake to ensure that sufficient royalties for regions funding is allocated to PATS to ensure that the Esperance office remains open? (6) If no to (5), why not? Hon WENDY DUNCAN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The minister has replied as follows — (1)-(6) The Minister for Health advised the Legislative Assembly on 13 August 2009 that the decision to close the Esperance patient assisted travel scheme office was being reviewed. I understand that this review process is still underway. It should be noted that $30.8 million has been allocated to the patient assisted travel scheme from 2008-09 to 2011-12 through royalties for regions to increase support for country residents needing to travel away from their homes to access specialist medical services.
(6) If no to (5), why not? Hon WENDY DUNCAN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The minister has replied as follows — (1)-(6) The Minister for Health advised the Legislative Assembly on 13 August 2009 that the decision to close the Esperance patient assisted travel scheme office was being reviewed. I understand that this review process is still underway. It should be noted that $30.8 million has been allocated to the patient assisted travel scheme from 2008-09 to 2011-12 through royalties for regions to increase support for country residents needing to travel away from their homes to access specialist medical services.
Hon WENDY DUNCAN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The minister has replied as follows — (1)-(6) The Minister for Health advised the Legislative Assembly on 13 August 2009 that the decision to close the Esperance patient assisted travel scheme office was being reviewed. I understand that this review process is still underway. It should be noted that $30.8 million has been allocated to the patient assisted travel scheme from 2008-09 to 2011-12 through royalties for regions to increase support for country residents needing to travel away from their homes to access specialist medical services.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The minister has replied as follows — (1)-(6) The Minister for Health advised the Legislative Assembly on 13 August 2009 that the decision to close the Esperance patient assisted travel scheme office was being reviewed. I understand that this review process is still underway. It should be noted that $30.8 million has been allocated to the patient assisted travel scheme from 2008-09 to 2011-12 through royalties for regions to increase support for country residents needing to travel away from their homes to access specialist medical services.
(1)-(6) The Minister for Health advised the Legislative Assembly on 13 August 2009 that the decision to close the Esperance patient assisted travel scheme office was being reviewed. I understand that this review process is still underway. It should be noted that $30.8 million has been allocated to the patient assisted travel scheme from 2008-09 to 2011-12 through royalties for regions to increase support for country residents needing to travel away from their homes to access specialist medical services.
(1) What is the Minister for Regional Development doing to ensure the Esperance PATS office does not close? (2) What is the Minister for Regional Development doing to ensure the Esperance PATS office receives sufficient funding to ensure that it remains open? (3) Does the minister agree that ensuring the continued operation of all PATS offices in Western Australia is an appropriate use of royalties for regions funding? (4) If no to (3), why not? (5) Will the minister undertake to ensure that sufficient royalties for regions funding is allocated to PATS to ensure that the Esperance office remains open? (6) If no to (5), why not? Hon WENDY DUNCAN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The minister has replied as follows — (1)-(6) The Minister for Health advised the Legislative Assembly on 13 August 2009 that the decision to close the Esperance patient assisted travel scheme office was being reviewed. I understand that this review process is still underway. It should be noted that $30.8 million has been allocated to the patient assisted travel scheme from 2008-09 to 2011-12 through royalties for regions to increase support for country residents needing to travel away from their homes to access specialist medical services.
(2) What is the Minister for Regional Development doing to ensure the Esperance PATS office receives sufficient funding to ensure that it remains open? (3) Does the minister agree that ensuring the continued operation of all PATS offices in Western Australia is an appropriate use of royalties for regions funding? (4) If no to (3), why not? (5) Will the minister undertake to ensure that sufficient royalties for regions funding is allocated to PATS to ensure that the Esperance office remains open? (6) If no to (5), why not? Hon WENDY DUNCAN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The minister has replied as follows — (1)-(6) The Minister for Health advised the Legislative Assembly on 13 August 2009 that the decision to close the Esperance patient assisted travel scheme office was being reviewed. I understand that this review process is still underway. It should be noted that $30.8 million has been allocated to the patient assisted travel scheme from 2008-09 to 2011-12 through royalties for regions to increase support for country residents needing to travel away from their homes to access specialist medical services.
(3) Does the minister agree that ensuring the continued operation of all PATS offices in Western Australia is an appropriate use of royalties for regions funding? (4) If no to (3), why not? (5) Will the minister undertake to ensure that sufficient royalties for regions funding is allocated to PATS to ensure that the Esperance office remains open? (6) If no to (5), why not? Hon WENDY DUNCAN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The minister has replied as follows — (1)-(6) The Minister for Health advised the Legislative Assembly on 13 August 2009 that the decision to close the Esperance patient assisted travel scheme office was being reviewed. I understand that this review process is still underway. It should be noted that $30.8 million has been allocated to the patient assisted travel scheme from 2008-09 to 2011-12 through royalties for regions to increase support for country residents needing to travel away from their homes to access specialist medical services.
(4) If no to (3), why not? (5) Will the minister undertake to ensure that sufficient royalties for regions funding is allocated to PATS to ensure that the Esperance office remains open? (6) If no to (5), why not? Hon WENDY DUNCAN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The minister has replied as follows — (1)-(6) The Minister for Health advised the Legislative Assembly on 13 August 2009 that the decision to close the Esperance patient assisted travel scheme office was being reviewed. I understand that this review process is still underway. It should be noted that $30.8 million has been allocated to the patient assisted travel scheme from 2008-09 to 2011-12 through royalties for regions to increase support for country residents needing to travel away from their homes to access specialist medical services.
(5) Will the minister undertake to ensure that sufficient royalties for regions funding is allocated to PATS to ensure that the Esperance office remains open? (6) If no to (5), why not? Hon WENDY DUNCAN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The minister has replied as follows — (1)-(6) The Minister for Health advised the Legislative Assembly on 13 August 2009 that the decision to close the Esperance patient assisted travel scheme office was being reviewed. I understand that this review process is still underway. It should be noted that $30.8 million has been allocated to the patient assisted travel scheme from 2008-09 to 2011-12 through royalties for regions to increase support for country residents needing to travel away from their homes to access specialist medical services.
(6) If no to (5), why not? Hon WENDY DUNCAN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The minister has replied as follows — (1)-(6) The Minister for Health advised the Legislative Assembly on 13 August 2009 that the decision to close the Esperance patient assisted travel scheme office was being reviewed. I understand that this review process is still underway. It should be noted that $30.8 million has been allocated to the patient assisted travel scheme from 2008-09 to 2011-12 through royalties for regions to increase support for country residents needing to travel away from their homes to access specialist medical services.
Hon WENDY DUNCAN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The minister has replied as follows — (1)-(6) The Minister for Health advised the Legislative Assembly on 13 August 2009 that the decision to close the Esperance patient assisted travel scheme office was being reviewed. I understand that this review process is still underway. It should be noted that $30.8 million has been allocated to the patient assisted travel scheme from 2008-09 to 2011-12 through royalties for regions to increase support for country residents needing to travel away from their homes to access specialist medical services.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The minister has replied as follows — (1)-(6) The Minister for Health advised the Legislative Assembly on 13 August 2009 that the decision to close the Esperance patient assisted travel scheme office was being reviewed. I understand that this review process is still underway. It should be noted that $30.8 million has been allocated to the patient assisted travel scheme from 2008-09 to 2011-12 through royalties for regions to increase support for country residents needing to travel away from their homes to access specialist medical services.
(1)-(6) The Minister for Health advised the Legislative Assembly on 13 August 2009 that the decision to close the Esperance patient assisted travel scheme office was being reviewed. I understand that this review process is still underway. It should be noted that $30.8 million has been allocated to the patient assisted travel scheme from 2008-09 to 2011-12 through royalties for regions to increase support for country residents needing to travel away from their homes to access specialist medical services.
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