❓ Hon Martin Aldridge questions the Minister for Health regarding the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) fuel subsidy, citing rising petrol prices and the 2015 review. The Minister's response clarifies the subsidy is per kilometre, notes a substantial increase by the current government, and refers future decisions to cabinet.
AnsweredQoN 1155Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PATIENT ASSISTED TRAVEL
SCHEME — SUBSIDIES
1155. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Health:
I
refer to the 2015 review of the patient assisted travel scheme—PATS—which
the minister co-authored, yesterday's record high petrol prices,
and reports petrol will surge by as much as 30� a litre by the end of
September.
(1) Noting that
the average fuel price in June 2015 was 138� a litre, compared with over 200� a
litre today, will the minister commit to increasing the PATS fuel subsidy in
line with the review's recommendations; and, if not, why not?
(2) When was the last time the PATS fuel subsidy was reviewed,
and why has it not been reviewed on a regular basis by this government?
(3) Does the 16�
a litre fuel subsidy reflect a realistic proportion of fuel costs incurred by
patients?
SCHEME — SUBSIDIES
1155. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Health:
I
refer to the 2015 review of the patient assisted travel scheme—PATS—which
the minister co-authored, yesterday's record high petrol prices,
and reports petrol will surge by as much as 30� a litre by the end of
September.
(1) Noting that
the average fuel price in June 2015 was 138� a litre, compared with over 200� a
litre today, will the minister commit to increasing the PATS fuel subsidy in
line with the review's recommendations; and, if not, why not?
(2) When was the last time the PATS fuel subsidy was reviewed,
and why has it not been reviewed on a regular basis by this government?
(3) Does the 16�
a litre fuel subsidy reflect a realistic proportion of fuel costs incurred by
patients?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(3) The
premise of the question is incorrect. The patient assisted travel scheme fuel
subsidy is applied per kilometre, not per
litre of fuel. The PATS fuel and accommodation subsidy was reviewed by the
Standing Committee on Public Administration. The then state government's
response was provided on 17 August 2015. No changes were actioned until the
current state government substantially increased the PATS subsidy by 66 per cent
and expanded eligibility, better enabling vulnerable patients to travel with a support
person. Any future policy and budget decision would be a matter for the cabinet
and budget process. As such, the information would be considered
cabinet-in-confidence.
some notice of the question.
(1)–(3) The
premise of the question is incorrect. The patient assisted travel scheme fuel
subsidy is applied per kilometre, not per
litre of fuel. The PATS fuel and accommodation subsidy was reviewed by the
Standing Committee on Public Administration. The then state government's
response was provided on 17 August 2015. No changes were actioned until the
current state government substantially increased the PATS subsidy by 66 per cent
and expanded eligibility, better enabling vulnerable patients to travel with a support
person. Any future policy and budget decision would be a matter for the cabinet
and budget process. As such, the information would be considered
cabinet-in-confidence.
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