❓ The Minister for Health avoids directly answering questions about specific consultancies, citing resource constraints and referring to previously tabled reports and the Public Sector Management Act. They express concern about the disproportionate resources required to answer broad parliamentary questions.
AnsweredQoN 2454Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(2) Who were the consultants?
(3) What is the purpose of each consultancy?
(4) What is the duration of each consultancy?
(5) What is the cost of each consultancy?
(6) What are the terms of reference of each consultancy?
(3) What is the purpose of each consultancy?
(4) What is the duration of each consultancy?
(5) What is the cost of each consultancy?
(6) What are the terms of reference of each consultancy?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 August 2007
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
55 days
On 2 May 2006 (PQ 947) the Member for Vasse asked for information relating to the number of contractors/consultants employed in various disciplines. I was advised by the Department of Health that it took 3 weeks to answer PQ 947.
Subsequently, on 17 May 2007 (PQ 2008), the Member for Vasse sought the same information relating to different periods, to which a response was also provided. See attached
[tabled paper _______].
At that time, I advised the Member "answering questions of this nature are time consuming and labour resource intensive. For each department and agency, it requires diverting scarce resources away from core service provision. If the Member has a specific question, I will endeavour to answer it, but I am unable to continually agree to limited resources, particularly health resources, being diverted to across-the-board detailed "catch all" questions."
Section 7 of the
Public Sector Management Act 1994
, which was introduced by the Court Government in 1994, sets out the general principles of public administration and management to be observed in relation to the Public Sector.
At subsection 7(f) it states:
"resources are to be deployed so as to ensure their most efficient and effective use".
I have no desire to see the right of the Member restricted in asking parliamentary questions, and I understand that the role of the Opposition, to hold the Government accountable; however, resources within my agencies have to be managed prudently.
In light of the requirement to effectively manage public sector resources, it concerns me that in my departments and agencies, disproportionate resources have to be applied to answering parliamentary question of a corporate, operational or "catch all" nature.
A six-monthly summary of consultants engaged on contracts for services are prepared and include details of new and ongoing consultancy arrangements. Reports of consultants engaged by all government departments and agencies on contracts for services during the specified period have been tabled in Parliament.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
Subsequently, on 17 May 2007 (PQ 2008), the Member for Vasse sought the same information relating to different periods, to which a response was also provided. See attached
[tabled paper _______].
At that time, I advised the Member "answering questions of this nature are time consuming and labour resource intensive. For each department and agency, it requires diverting scarce resources away from core service provision. If the Member has a specific question, I will endeavour to answer it, but I am unable to continually agree to limited resources, particularly health resources, being diverted to across-the-board detailed "catch all" questions."
Section 7 of the
Public Sector Management Act 1994
, which was introduced by the Court Government in 1994, sets out the general principles of public administration and management to be observed in relation to the Public Sector.
At subsection 7(f) it states:
"resources are to be deployed so as to ensure their most efficient and effective use".
I have no desire to see the right of the Member restricted in asking parliamentary questions, and I understand that the role of the Opposition, to hold the Government accountable; however, resources within my agencies have to be managed prudently.
In light of the requirement to effectively manage public sector resources, it concerns me that in my departments and agencies, disproportionate resources have to be applied to answering parliamentary question of a corporate, operational or "catch all" nature.
A six-monthly summary of consultants engaged on contracts for services are prepared and include details of new and ongoing consultancy arrangements. Reports of consultants engaged by all government departments and agencies on contracts for services during the specified period have been tabled in Parliament.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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