Opposition questions the Health Minister about a car parking contract at Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, calling it 'appalling' for taxpayers. The Minister defends the contract, highlighting the benefits and acknowledging short-term costs.

AnsweredQoN 545Legislative Assembly
Asked
23 August 2016
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

QUEEN ELIZABETH II MEDICAL CENTRE — CAR
PARKING
545. Mr R.H. COOK to the Minister for
Health:
I have a supplementary question.
Yesterday the minister said that he scratched his head in wonder about this
contract, and the Premier himself this morning wondered why it was signed. So I
ask again: why did this government sign such an appalling contract for WA
taxpayers?

AnswerView source ↗

As I said, it was a contract that
was agreed to and executed five years ago in 2011 as a result of a process that
was undertaken by the government through the Office of Strategic Projects in
the Department of Treasury. It has produced a very good result for the
taxpayers of Western Australia in providing a $125 million new facility at no
up�front cost to taxpayers. I share the frustration that it has taken as long
as it has for the hospital to be completed and therefore for the car bays in
the basement of the hospital to be put into use. It is not an ideal solution,
as I said yesterday. It is certainly a short-term cost to the state that we
would much prefer not to have. However, we need to look at the longer term and
the bigger picture and see what has actually been provided and what will be
there once the hospital is open.

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