❓ Opposition asks about progress replacing thermostatic mixing valves and testing brass fittings at Perth Children's Hospital. Minister deflects, blames previous government, and accuses the opposition of siding with the builder.
AnsweredQoN 582Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PERTH CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL —
THERMOSTATIC MIXING VALVES
582. Dr M.D. NAHAN to the Minister for
Health:
(1) Can the
minister confirm that the government has replaced only one per cent of the 1 200
thermostatic mixing valves at the Perth Children's Hospital?
(2) Can the
minister confirm that at this rate it will take 16 years before the hospital
opens?
(3) In relation
to recommendation 4 of the Chief Health Officer's report of July 2017,
how many of the 10 000 brass fittings have been tested and what was the
outcome?
THERMOSTATIC MIXING VALVES
582. Dr M.D. NAHAN to the Minister for
Health:
(1) Can the
minister confirm that the government has replaced only one per cent of the 1 200
thermostatic mixing valves at the Perth Children's Hospital?
(2) Can the
minister confirm that at this rate it will take 16 years before the hospital
opens?
(3) In relation
to recommendation 4 of the Chief Health Officer's report of July 2017,
how many of the 10 000 brass fittings have been tested and what was the
outcome?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I
thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question because I love talking
about how we are going about fixing the mess left by the previous government,
which failed to deliver Perth Children's Hospital. It was 18 months
overdue and it is now creeping up to two years. It is all the previous
government's fault. We will debate this issue in private members'
business time today and I am looking forward to this debate, because I want the
Leader of the Opposition to ask himself a very simple question: Whose side is
he on? Is he on the side of the builder who has a $300 million claim against
the WA taxpayer? Is he on the side of the builder who has failed to deliver
this hospital project?
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members! It is a wall of noise. I want to hear. You have asked the
question. Listen to the answer.
Mr
R.H. COOK : Is the Leader of the Opposition on the side of the builder who
has, in concert with the previous government, failed to deliver this hospital
or is he on the side of the WA taxpayers and the sick kids who will be using
that hospital? Whose side is the Leader of the Opposition on? I know whose side
he is on. He is on the side of big business. He is hoping that this company
covers the previous government's trail of incompetence in the way it
managed this hospital. He is hoping that this company, through its $300 million
claim against the WA taxpayer, will save his sore and sorry political arse
because it will expose his incompetence.
Withdrawal of Remark
The
SPEAKER : Minister, you will withdraw that comment.
Mr R.H. COOK : I certainly do
withdraw that, Mr Speaker, because I want to speak —
The
SPEAKER : No.
Mr
R.H. COOK : I withdraw it unreservedly, Mr Speaker.
Questions without
Notice Resumed
Mr
R.H. COOK : I want to highlight the impact of the brass fittings in the
hospital crisis. As the Leader of the Opposition correctly stated—it
was about the only correct thing he said about this hospital project—the
Chief Health Officer identified the brass fittings as part of the problem with
the lead in the water at the hospital. The Chief Health Officer has charged us
with the task of making sure that we go about fixing as many of the
thermostatic mixing valves assembly box components as we can to the extent that
we can ensure that that will provide a resounding solution. I am very happy to
provide the Leader of the Opposition with an update that suggests that of those
boxes that we have replaced to date, the early indications are that it has a positive
impact in driving down the incidence of lead in the water.
Dr
M.D. Nahan : How many?
Mr
R.H. COOK : We have done about a dozen of them so we have tested the ones
that we can. Part of the problem is that because of the nature of these boxes
and the way they have been constructed, we have to get stainless steel fittings
that fit in the space and the only way we can do that is through a bespoke
manufacturing contract with a local plumber. We are very grateful to that
plumber who is coming to the table with a range of solutions that we are very
keen to implement to resolve the issues. I can confirm that we will be
demanding that the builder remediate other brass fittings because they were not
consistent with the contract.
I can assure the Leader of the
Opposition that we will continue to work methodically through the issues that
confront us with this hospital because we are determined to resolve those
issues and not simply cover them up like the other mob did when it was in
office.
thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question because I love talking
about how we are going about fixing the mess left by the previous government,
which failed to deliver Perth Children's Hospital. It was 18 months
overdue and it is now creeping up to two years. It is all the previous
government's fault. We will debate this issue in private members'
business time today and I am looking forward to this debate, because I want the
Leader of the Opposition to ask himself a very simple question: Whose side is
he on? Is he on the side of the builder who has a $300 million claim against
the WA taxpayer? Is he on the side of the builder who has failed to deliver
this hospital project?
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members! It is a wall of noise. I want to hear. You have asked the
question. Listen to the answer.
Mr
R.H. COOK : Is the Leader of the Opposition on the side of the builder who
has, in concert with the previous government, failed to deliver this hospital
or is he on the side of the WA taxpayers and the sick kids who will be using
that hospital? Whose side is the Leader of the Opposition on? I know whose side
he is on. He is on the side of big business. He is hoping that this company
covers the previous government's trail of incompetence in the way it
managed this hospital. He is hoping that this company, through its $300 million
claim against the WA taxpayer, will save his sore and sorry political arse
because it will expose his incompetence.
Withdrawal of Remark
The
SPEAKER : Minister, you will withdraw that comment.
Mr R.H. COOK : I certainly do
withdraw that, Mr Speaker, because I want to speak —
The
SPEAKER : No.
Mr
R.H. COOK : I withdraw it unreservedly, Mr Speaker.
Questions without
Notice Resumed
Mr
R.H. COOK : I want to highlight the impact of the brass fittings in the
hospital crisis. As the Leader of the Opposition correctly stated—it
was about the only correct thing he said about this hospital project—the
Chief Health Officer identified the brass fittings as part of the problem with
the lead in the water at the hospital. The Chief Health Officer has charged us
with the task of making sure that we go about fixing as many of the
thermostatic mixing valves assembly box components as we can to the extent that
we can ensure that that will provide a resounding solution. I am very happy to
provide the Leader of the Opposition with an update that suggests that of those
boxes that we have replaced to date, the early indications are that it has a positive
impact in driving down the incidence of lead in the water.
Dr
M.D. Nahan : How many?
Mr
R.H. COOK : We have done about a dozen of them so we have tested the ones
that we can. Part of the problem is that because of the nature of these boxes
and the way they have been constructed, we have to get stainless steel fittings
that fit in the space and the only way we can do that is through a bespoke
manufacturing contract with a local plumber. We are very grateful to that
plumber who is coming to the table with a range of solutions that we are very
keen to implement to resolve the issues. I can confirm that we will be
demanding that the builder remediate other brass fittings because they were not
consistent with the contract.
I can assure the Leader of the
Opposition that we will continue to work methodically through the issues that
confront us with this hospital because we are determined to resolve those
issues and not simply cover them up like the other mob did when it was in
office.
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