❓ Mr. Watson questions the Minister for Health about planned closures of regional Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) offices. The Minister deflects, stating the closures were initiated by the previous Labor government and highlights increased PATS funding under the current government.
AnsweredQoN 647Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PATIENT
ASSISTED TRAVEL SCHEME — OFFICE CLOSURES
647. Mr P.B. WATSON to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the comments in the media
attributed to the minister in which he conceded that he would close regional
patient assisted travel scheme offices across Western Australia.
(1) Will the
minister provide the details of the offices that he intends to close, and will
he table the list in Parliament?
(2) What criteria have been used to
determine which offices will be closed?
(3) What impact
will the closure of PATS offices have on regional health services across
Western Australia?
ASSISTED TRAVEL SCHEME — OFFICE CLOSURES
647. Mr P.B. WATSON to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the comments in the media
attributed to the minister in which he conceded that he would close regional
patient assisted travel scheme offices across Western Australia.
(1) Will the
minister provide the details of the offices that he intends to close, and will
he table the list in Parliament?
(2) What criteria have been used to
determine which offices will be closed?
(3) What impact
will the closure of PATS offices have on regional health services across
Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) I was
pleasantly surprised when the opposition had a go about this in the media. I
got hold of the records to see where the program to close patient assisted
travel scheme offices in country regions originated. Guess where it came from?
It was from the Labor Party in 2004. It was not last year or the year before.
In 2004, the former government started the program of centralising the PATS
offices. During the former government's term in office, of the seven
regional PATS offices, four were closed and amalgamated to a central area.
Three offices from regional areas were closed and set up in Esperance and
Kalgoorlie. Despite the former government having lost the election, that
process continued only on the one site where consideration was given to keep
the centre in Esperance open and to close the centre in Kalgoorlie. As I said
the other day, despite the member for Albany's protestations, I would
like to see good evidence as to why that should be the case. The member for
Eyre has quite rightly been talking to me on behalf of his constituents and has
asked why that should happen. This program was not only started, but also
largely concluded under the former government; it was not our initiative. I
have come to the process at a late stage and am having a good look at it.
Mr B.J. Grylls :
Minister, remind us again of the major expansion of the PATS services put
forward by this government.
Dr K.D. HAMES : It
is funny that the Leader of the National Party should mention that. We have been
able to increase funding to PATS by 50 per cent, or $30 million, over four
years. Western Australia is the only state or Territory government in Australia
that has put that amount of money into PATS funding and responded directly to
the recommendations of the Senate inquiry into PATS funding. This government
has done it and it is looking after country Western Australia.
pleasantly surprised when the opposition had a go about this in the media. I
got hold of the records to see where the program to close patient assisted
travel scheme offices in country regions originated. Guess where it came from?
It was from the Labor Party in 2004. It was not last year or the year before.
In 2004, the former government started the program of centralising the PATS
offices. During the former government's term in office, of the seven
regional PATS offices, four were closed and amalgamated to a central area.
Three offices from regional areas were closed and set up in Esperance and
Kalgoorlie. Despite the former government having lost the election, that
process continued only on the one site where consideration was given to keep
the centre in Esperance open and to close the centre in Kalgoorlie. As I said
the other day, despite the member for Albany's protestations, I would
like to see good evidence as to why that should be the case. The member for
Eyre has quite rightly been talking to me on behalf of his constituents and has
asked why that should happen. This program was not only started, but also
largely concluded under the former government; it was not our initiative. I
have come to the process at a late stage and am having a good look at it.
Mr B.J. Grylls :
Minister, remind us again of the major expansion of the PATS services put
forward by this government.
Dr K.D. HAMES : It
is funny that the Leader of the National Party should mention that. We have been
able to increase funding to PATS by 50 per cent, or $30 million, over four
years. Western Australia is the only state or Territory government in Australia
that has put that amount of money into PATS funding and responded directly to
the recommendations of the Senate inquiry into PATS funding. This government
has done it and it is looking after country Western Australia.
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