❓ Mr. Zempilas questions the Minister for Health regarding a new reporting framework for water testing in public hospitals, specifically concerning legionella, lead, and other pathogens. The Minister clarifies the nature of the direction and reports no exceedances since its implementation.
AnsweredQoN 813Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to your Brief Ministerial Statement on Tuesday 9 September 2025, and I ask: (a) On what date did you issue the direction to the Director General of the Department of Health for the new reporting framework; (b) Will you table the direction to the Director General of the Department of Health that you issued regarding legionella, lead, and other pathogen testing results: (i) If not, why not; (c) What are the other pathogens are required to be reported, as per the new reporting framework; and (d) Since the date of the direction, have you been informed of any exceedances at any public hospital: (i) If yes, please provide a table of those incidents (date of exceedance, location, hospital, action taken)?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 November 2025
Responded by
Minister for Health; Mental Health
Response time
9 days
(a)–(b)(i)
Directions don’t have to be in writing or in a document. As the Minister stated on 9 September 2025, the Director General of the Department of Health was asked to implement a requirement that all Health Service Providers regularly report the results of their water testing regimes to the department and immediately notify the Chief Health Officer in writing when an exceedance of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines is detected. The Director General acted on the direction and communicated this to Health Service Providers.
(c) Other pathogens subject to reporting under the new framework include any that pose a potential risk to the health or safety of patients or staff.
(d) No.
Directions don’t have to be in writing or in a document. As the Minister stated on 9 September 2025, the Director General of the Department of Health was asked to implement a requirement that all Health Service Providers regularly report the results of their water testing regimes to the department and immediately notify the Chief Health Officer in writing when an exceedance of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines is detected. The Director General acted on the direction and communicated this to Health Service Providers.
(c) Other pathogens subject to reporting under the new framework include any that pose a potential risk to the health or safety of patients or staff.
(d) No.
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