❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding a potential budget overrun in the Department of Health. The Minister denies a salary funding shortfall and defends the department's financial performance, highlighting improvements in emergency services and elective surgery waiting lists.
AnsweredQoN 497Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to his media statement of 8 August this year, in which he claimed that the Department of Health’s budget had not overrun in 2003-04. I quote - This is an excellent financial outcome which has been achieved through responsible management . . . (1) Is the minister aware that according to a leaked Department of Treasury and Finance memo of June 2004, the Department of Health, and I quote, “has expended an additional $47.9 million in 2003-04 for services above the 2003-04 budget allocation”? (2) Can the minister confirm that the only reason his department did not record a massive budget deficit was because of an unexpected, unbudgeted windfall of $49.2 million? (3) Is it true that the Department of Health required $31 million in additional funding in June this year just to meet the payment of salaries? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) The answer to the last question is a categorical no. The Opposition really does not like it when the Government gets the runs on the board. Members opposite hate the fact that this year our emergency departments are doing tremendously well. We have record levels of utilisation of our ambulances and emergency departments. The Opposition comes into this Chamber sniping around the edges, whingeing, carping and complaining because the Government is getting the runs on the board. I give a simple illustration of this point. Last year in the winter months of May through to August, we had 50 triple diversions of ambulances in tertiary hospitals in Western Australia. Over the same period this year, the figure is five. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: You’re not allowed to report them; that’s why! Mr J.A. McGINTY: What a load of nonsense. That is what I mean: members opposite want to complain that the Government is providing services to the public of Western Australia. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Opposition members come in here complaining that the Government is providing services to the people of Western Australia, and they do not like the fact that the Government has succeeded in what it is doing in health services. They do not like the fact that elective surgery waiting lists are the shortest ever recorded in this State. They do not like the fact we have delivered a balanced budget this year, with a surplus of $0.5 million over a $3.1 billion budget. I make this point in answer to the specific questions raised by the member for Mitchell. It is true that more money was spent on providing service for patients than was originally provided for. That amount was balanced by strict budgetary controls in a host of areas, in which we pulled back a projected deficit of $136 million at the beginning of the financial year and turned it into a $0.5 million surplus at the year’s end. Government members: Hear, hear! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We were paid by the Commonwealth for services provided, particularly for veterans affairs people. Money came back in for services we provided. That always happens in health services. That was budgeted at the end of the year. No, there has not been an injection of money into health services. We balanced our budgets. What we have done is a tremendous tribute to those people who work very hard in our tertiary hospitals, in our hospitals generally and in the Department of Health, to record the best ever financial result in a decade.
This is an excellent financial outcome which has been achieved through responsible management . . . (1) Is the minister aware that according to a leaked Department of Treasury and Finance memo of June 2004, the Department of Health, and I quote, “has expended an additional $47.9 million in 2003-04 for services above the 2003-04 budget allocation”? (2) Can the minister confirm that the only reason his department did not record a massive budget deficit was because of an unexpected, unbudgeted windfall of $49.2 million? (3) Is it true that the Department of Health required $31 million in additional funding in June this year just to meet the payment of salaries? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The answer to the last question is a categorical no. The Opposition really does not like it when the Government gets the runs on the board. Members opposite hate the fact that this year our emergency departments are doing tremendously well. We have record levels of utilisation of our ambulances and emergency departments. The Opposition comes into this Chamber sniping around the edges, whingeing, carping and complaining because the Government is getting the runs on the board. I give a simple illustration of this point. Last year in the winter months of May through to August, we had 50 triple diversions of ambulances in tertiary hospitals in Western Australia. Over the same period this year, the figure is five. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: You’re not allowed to report them; that’s why! Mr J.A. McGINTY: What a load of nonsense. That is what I mean: members opposite want to complain that the Government is providing services to the public of Western Australia. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Opposition members come in here complaining that the Government is providing services to the people of Western Australia, and they do not like the fact that the Government has succeeded in what it is doing in health services. They do not like the fact that elective surgery waiting lists are the shortest ever recorded in this State. They do not like the fact we have delivered a balanced budget this year, with a surplus of $0.5 million over a $3.1 billion budget. I make this point in answer to the specific questions raised by the member for Mitchell. It is true that more money was spent on providing service for patients than was originally provided for. That amount was balanced by strict budgetary controls in a host of areas, in which we pulled back a projected deficit of $136 million at the beginning of the financial year and turned it into a $0.5 million surplus at the year’s end. Government members: Hear, hear! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We were paid by the Commonwealth for services provided, particularly for veterans affairs people. Money came back in for services we provided. That always happens in health services. That was budgeted at the end of the year. No, there has not been an injection of money into health services. We balanced our budgets. What we have done is a tremendous tribute to those people who work very hard in our tertiary hospitals, in our hospitals generally and in the Department of Health, to record the best ever financial result in a decade.
(1) Is the minister aware that according to a leaked Department of Treasury and Finance memo of June 2004, the Department of Health, and I quote, “has expended an additional $47.9 million in 2003-04 for services above the 2003-04 budget allocation”? (2) Can the minister confirm that the only reason his department did not record a massive budget deficit was because of an unexpected, unbudgeted windfall of $49.2 million? (3) Is it true that the Department of Health required $31 million in additional funding in June this year just to meet the payment of salaries? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The answer to the last question is a categorical no. The Opposition really does not like it when the Government gets the runs on the board. Members opposite hate the fact that this year our emergency departments are doing tremendously well. We have record levels of utilisation of our ambulances and emergency departments. The Opposition comes into this Chamber sniping around the edges, whingeing, carping and complaining because the Government is getting the runs on the board. I give a simple illustration of this point. Last year in the winter months of May through to August, we had 50 triple diversions of ambulances in tertiary hospitals in Western Australia. Over the same period this year, the figure is five. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: You’re not allowed to report them; that’s why! Mr J.A. McGINTY: What a load of nonsense. That is what I mean: members opposite want to complain that the Government is providing services to the public of Western Australia. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Opposition members come in here complaining that the Government is providing services to the people of Western Australia, and they do not like the fact that the Government has succeeded in what it is doing in health services. They do not like the fact that elective surgery waiting lists are the shortest ever recorded in this State. They do not like the fact we have delivered a balanced budget this year, with a surplus of $0.5 million over a $3.1 billion budget. I make this point in answer to the specific questions raised by the member for Mitchell. It is true that more money was spent on providing service for patients than was originally provided for. That amount was balanced by strict budgetary controls in a host of areas, in which we pulled back a projected deficit of $136 million at the beginning of the financial year and turned it into a $0.5 million surplus at the year’s end. Government members: Hear, hear! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We were paid by the Commonwealth for services provided, particularly for veterans affairs people. Money came back in for services we provided. That always happens in health services. That was budgeted at the end of the year. No, there has not been an injection of money into health services. We balanced our budgets. What we have done is a tremendous tribute to those people who work very hard in our tertiary hospitals, in our hospitals generally and in the Department of Health, to record the best ever financial result in a decade.
(2) Can the minister confirm that the only reason his department did not record a massive budget deficit was because of an unexpected, unbudgeted windfall of $49.2 million? (3) Is it true that the Department of Health required $31 million in additional funding in June this year just to meet the payment of salaries? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The answer to the last question is a categorical no. The Opposition really does not like it when the Government gets the runs on the board. Members opposite hate the fact that this year our emergency departments are doing tremendously well. We have record levels of utilisation of our ambulances and emergency departments. The Opposition comes into this Chamber sniping around the edges, whingeing, carping and complaining because the Government is getting the runs on the board. I give a simple illustration of this point. Last year in the winter months of May through to August, we had 50 triple diversions of ambulances in tertiary hospitals in Western Australia. Over the same period this year, the figure is five. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: You’re not allowed to report them; that’s why! Mr J.A. McGINTY: What a load of nonsense. That is what I mean: members opposite want to complain that the Government is providing services to the public of Western Australia. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Opposition members come in here complaining that the Government is providing services to the people of Western Australia, and they do not like the fact that the Government has succeeded in what it is doing in health services. They do not like the fact that elective surgery waiting lists are the shortest ever recorded in this State. They do not like the fact we have delivered a balanced budget this year, with a surplus of $0.5 million over a $3.1 billion budget. I make this point in answer to the specific questions raised by the member for Mitchell. It is true that more money was spent on providing service for patients than was originally provided for. That amount was balanced by strict budgetary controls in a host of areas, in which we pulled back a projected deficit of $136 million at the beginning of the financial year and turned it into a $0.5 million surplus at the year’s end. Government members: Hear, hear! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We were paid by the Commonwealth for services provided, particularly for veterans affairs people. Money came back in for services we provided. That always happens in health services. That was budgeted at the end of the year. No, there has not been an injection of money into health services. We balanced our budgets. What we have done is a tremendous tribute to those people who work very hard in our tertiary hospitals, in our hospitals generally and in the Department of Health, to record the best ever financial result in a decade.
(3) Is it true that the Department of Health required $31 million in additional funding in June this year just to meet the payment of salaries? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The answer to the last question is a categorical no. The Opposition really does not like it when the Government gets the runs on the board. Members opposite hate the fact that this year our emergency departments are doing tremendously well. We have record levels of utilisation of our ambulances and emergency departments. The Opposition comes into this Chamber sniping around the edges, whingeing, carping and complaining because the Government is getting the runs on the board. I give a simple illustration of this point. Last year in the winter months of May through to August, we had 50 triple diversions of ambulances in tertiary hospitals in Western Australia. Over the same period this year, the figure is five. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: You’re not allowed to report them; that’s why! Mr J.A. McGINTY: What a load of nonsense. That is what I mean: members opposite want to complain that the Government is providing services to the public of Western Australia. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Opposition members come in here complaining that the Government is providing services to the people of Western Australia, and they do not like the fact that the Government has succeeded in what it is doing in health services. They do not like the fact that elective surgery waiting lists are the shortest ever recorded in this State. They do not like the fact we have delivered a balanced budget this year, with a surplus of $0.5 million over a $3.1 billion budget. I make this point in answer to the specific questions raised by the member for Mitchell. It is true that more money was spent on providing service for patients than was originally provided for. That amount was balanced by strict budgetary controls in a host of areas, in which we pulled back a projected deficit of $136 million at the beginning of the financial year and turned it into a $0.5 million surplus at the year’s end. Government members: Hear, hear! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We were paid by the Commonwealth for services provided, particularly for veterans affairs people. Money came back in for services we provided. That always happens in health services. That was budgeted at the end of the year. No, there has not been an injection of money into health services. We balanced our budgets. What we have done is a tremendous tribute to those people who work very hard in our tertiary hospitals, in our hospitals generally and in the Department of Health, to record the best ever financial result in a decade.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The answer to the last question is a categorical no. The Opposition really does not like it when the Government gets the runs on the board. Members opposite hate the fact that this year our emergency departments are doing tremendously well. We have record levels of utilisation of our ambulances and emergency departments. The Opposition comes into this Chamber sniping around the edges, whingeing, carping and complaining because the Government is getting the runs on the board. I give a simple illustration of this point. Last year in the winter months of May through to August, we had 50 triple diversions of ambulances in tertiary hospitals in Western Australia. Over the same period this year, the figure is five. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: You’re not allowed to report them; that’s why! Mr J.A. McGINTY: What a load of nonsense. That is what I mean: members opposite want to complain that the Government is providing services to the public of Western Australia. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Opposition members come in here complaining that the Government is providing services to the people of Western Australia, and they do not like the fact that the Government has succeeded in what it is doing in health services. They do not like the fact that elective surgery waiting lists are the shortest ever recorded in this State. They do not like the fact we have delivered a balanced budget this year, with a surplus of $0.5 million over a $3.1 billion budget. I make this point in answer to the specific questions raised by the member for Mitchell. It is true that more money was spent on providing service for patients than was originally provided for. That amount was balanced by strict budgetary controls in a host of areas, in which we pulled back a projected deficit of $136 million at the beginning of the financial year and turned it into a $0.5 million surplus at the year’s end. Government members: Hear, hear! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We were paid by the Commonwealth for services provided, particularly for veterans affairs people. Money came back in for services we provided. That always happens in health services. That was budgeted at the end of the year. No, there has not been an injection of money into health services. We balanced our budgets. What we have done is a tremendous tribute to those people who work very hard in our tertiary hospitals, in our hospitals generally and in the Department of Health, to record the best ever financial result in a decade.
(1)-(3) The answer to the last question is a categorical no. The Opposition really does not like it when the Government gets the runs on the board. Members opposite hate the fact that this year our emergency departments are doing tremendously well. We have record levels of utilisation of our ambulances and emergency departments. The Opposition comes into this Chamber sniping around the edges, whingeing, carping and complaining because the Government is getting the runs on the board. I give a simple illustration of this point. Last year in the winter months of May through to August, we had 50 triple diversions of ambulances in tertiary hospitals in Western Australia. Over the same period this year, the figure is five. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: You’re not allowed to report them; that’s why! Mr J.A. McGINTY: What a load of nonsense. That is what I mean: members opposite want to complain that the Government is providing services to the public of Western Australia. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Opposition members come in here complaining that the Government is providing services to the people of Western Australia, and they do not like the fact that the Government has succeeded in what it is doing in health services. They do not like the fact that elective surgery waiting lists are the shortest ever recorded in this State. They do not like the fact we have delivered a balanced budget this year, with a surplus of $0.5 million over a $3.1 billion budget. I make this point in answer to the specific questions raised by the member for Mitchell. It is true that more money was spent on providing service for patients than was originally provided for. That amount was balanced by strict budgetary controls in a host of areas, in which we pulled back a projected deficit of $136 million at the beginning of the financial year and turned it into a $0.5 million surplus at the year’s end. Government members: Hear, hear! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We were paid by the Commonwealth for services provided, particularly for veterans affairs people. Money came back in for services we provided. That always happens in health services. That was budgeted at the end of the year. No, there has not been an injection of money into health services. We balanced our budgets. What we have done is a tremendous tribute to those people who work very hard in our tertiary hospitals, in our hospitals generally and in the Department of Health, to record the best ever financial result in a decade.
Mr J.L. Bradshaw: You’re not allowed to report them; that’s why! Mr J.A. McGINTY: What a load of nonsense. That is what I mean: members opposite want to complain that the Government is providing services to the public of Western Australia. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Opposition members come in here complaining that the Government is providing services to the people of Western Australia, and they do not like the fact that the Government has succeeded in what it is doing in health services. They do not like the fact that elective surgery waiting lists are the shortest ever recorded in this State. They do not like the fact we have delivered a balanced budget this year, with a surplus of $0.5 million over a $3.1 billion budget. I make this point in answer to the specific questions raised by the member for Mitchell. It is true that more money was spent on providing service for patients than was originally provided for. That amount was balanced by strict budgetary controls in a host of areas, in which we pulled back a projected deficit of $136 million at the beginning of the financial year and turned it into a $0.5 million surplus at the year’s end. Government members: Hear, hear! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We were paid by the Commonwealth for services provided, particularly for veterans affairs people. Money came back in for services we provided. That always happens in health services. That was budgeted at the end of the year. No, there has not been an injection of money into health services. We balanced our budgets. What we have done is a tremendous tribute to those people who work very hard in our tertiary hospitals, in our hospitals generally and in the Department of Health, to record the best ever financial result in a decade.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: What a load of nonsense. That is what I mean: members opposite want to complain that the Government is providing services to the public of Western Australia. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Opposition members come in here complaining that the Government is providing services to the people of Western Australia, and they do not like the fact that the Government has succeeded in what it is doing in health services. They do not like the fact that elective surgery waiting lists are the shortest ever recorded in this State. They do not like the fact we have delivered a balanced budget this year, with a surplus of $0.5 million over a $3.1 billion budget. I make this point in answer to the specific questions raised by the member for Mitchell. It is true that more money was spent on providing service for patients than was originally provided for. That amount was balanced by strict budgetary controls in a host of areas, in which we pulled back a projected deficit of $136 million at the beginning of the financial year and turned it into a $0.5 million surplus at the year’s end. Government members: Hear, hear! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We were paid by the Commonwealth for services provided, particularly for veterans affairs people. Money came back in for services we provided. That always happens in health services. That was budgeted at the end of the year. No, there has not been an injection of money into health services. We balanced our budgets. What we have done is a tremendous tribute to those people who work very hard in our tertiary hospitals, in our hospitals generally and in the Department of Health, to record the best ever financial result in a decade.
The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Opposition members come in here complaining that the Government is providing services to the people of Western Australia, and they do not like the fact that the Government has succeeded in what it is doing in health services. They do not like the fact that elective surgery waiting lists are the shortest ever recorded in this State. They do not like the fact we have delivered a balanced budget this year, with a surplus of $0.5 million over a $3.1 billion budget. I make this point in answer to the specific questions raised by the member for Mitchell. It is true that more money was spent on providing service for patients than was originally provided for. That amount was balanced by strict budgetary controls in a host of areas, in which we pulled back a projected deficit of $136 million at the beginning of the financial year and turned it into a $0.5 million surplus at the year’s end. Government members: Hear, hear! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We were paid by the Commonwealth for services provided, particularly for veterans affairs people. Money came back in for services we provided. That always happens in health services. That was budgeted at the end of the year. No, there has not been an injection of money into health services. We balanced our budgets. What we have done is a tremendous tribute to those people who work very hard in our tertiary hospitals, in our hospitals generally and in the Department of Health, to record the best ever financial result in a decade.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Opposition members come in here complaining that the Government is providing services to the people of Western Australia, and they do not like the fact that the Government has succeeded in what it is doing in health services. They do not like the fact that elective surgery waiting lists are the shortest ever recorded in this State. They do not like the fact we have delivered a balanced budget this year, with a surplus of $0.5 million over a $3.1 billion budget. I make this point in answer to the specific questions raised by the member for Mitchell. It is true that more money was spent on providing service for patients than was originally provided for. That amount was balanced by strict budgetary controls in a host of areas, in which we pulled back a projected deficit of $136 million at the beginning of the financial year and turned it into a $0.5 million surplus at the year’s end. Government members: Hear, hear! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We were paid by the Commonwealth for services provided, particularly for veterans affairs people. Money came back in for services we provided. That always happens in health services. That was budgeted at the end of the year. No, there has not been an injection of money into health services. We balanced our budgets. What we have done is a tremendous tribute to those people who work very hard in our tertiary hospitals, in our hospitals generally and in the Department of Health, to record the best ever financial result in a decade.
I make this point in answer to the specific questions raised by the member for Mitchell. It is true that more money was spent on providing service for patients than was originally provided for. That amount was balanced by strict budgetary controls in a host of areas, in which we pulled back a projected deficit of $136 million at the beginning of the financial year and turned it into a $0.5 million surplus at the year’s end. Government members: Hear, hear! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We were paid by the Commonwealth for services provided, particularly for veterans affairs people. Money came back in for services we provided. That always happens in health services. That was budgeted at the end of the year. No, there has not been an injection of money into health services. We balanced our budgets. What we have done is a tremendous tribute to those people who work very hard in our tertiary hospitals, in our hospitals generally and in the Department of Health, to record the best ever financial result in a decade.
Government members: Hear, hear! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We were paid by the Commonwealth for services provided, particularly for veterans affairs people. Money came back in for services we provided. That always happens in health services. That was budgeted at the end of the year. No, there has not been an injection of money into health services. We balanced our budgets. What we have done is a tremendous tribute to those people who work very hard in our tertiary hospitals, in our hospitals generally and in the Department of Health, to record the best ever financial result in a decade.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: We were paid by the Commonwealth for services provided, particularly for veterans affairs people. Money came back in for services we provided. That always happens in health services. That was budgeted at the end of the year. No, there has not been an injection of money into health services. We balanced our budgets. What we have done is a tremendous tribute to those people who work very hard in our tertiary hospitals, in our hospitals generally and in the Department of Health, to record the best ever financial result in a decade.
This is an excellent financial outcome which has been achieved through responsible management . . . (1) Is the minister aware that according to a leaked Department of Treasury and Finance memo of June 2004, the Department of Health, and I quote, “has expended an additional $47.9 million in 2003-04 for services above the 2003-04 budget allocation”? (2) Can the minister confirm that the only reason his department did not record a massive budget deficit was because of an unexpected, unbudgeted windfall of $49.2 million? (3) Is it true that the Department of Health required $31 million in additional funding in June this year just to meet the payment of salaries? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The answer to the last question is a categorical no. The Opposition really does not like it when the Government gets the runs on the board. Members opposite hate the fact that this year our emergency departments are doing tremendously well. We have record levels of utilisation of our ambulances and emergency departments. The Opposition comes into this Chamber sniping around the edges, whingeing, carping and complaining because the Government is getting the runs on the board. I give a simple illustration of this point. Last year in the winter months of May through to August, we had 50 triple diversions of ambulances in tertiary hospitals in Western Australia. Over the same period this year, the figure is five. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: You’re not allowed to report them; that’s why! Mr J.A. McGINTY: What a load of nonsense. That is what I mean: members opposite want to complain that the Government is providing services to the public of Western Australia. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Opposition members come in here complaining that the Government is providing services to the people of Western Australia, and they do not like the fact that the Government has succeeded in what it is doing in health services. They do not like the fact that elective surgery waiting lists are the shortest ever recorded in this State. They do not like the fact we have delivered a balanced budget this year, with a surplus of $0.5 million over a $3.1 billion budget. I make this point in answer to the specific questions raised by the member for Mitchell. It is true that more money was spent on providing service for patients than was originally provided for. That amount was balanced by strict budgetary controls in a host of areas, in which we pulled back a projected deficit of $136 million at the beginning of the financial year and turned it into a $0.5 million surplus at the year’s end. Government members: Hear, hear! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We were paid by the Commonwealth for services provided, particularly for veterans affairs people. Money came back in for services we provided. That always happens in health services. That was budgeted at the end of the year. No, there has not been an injection of money into health services. We balanced our budgets. What we have done is a tremendous tribute to those people who work very hard in our tertiary hospitals, in our hospitals generally and in the Department of Health, to record the best ever financial result in a decade.
(1) Is the minister aware that according to a leaked Department of Treasury and Finance memo of June 2004, the Department of Health, and I quote, “has expended an additional $47.9 million in 2003-04 for services above the 2003-04 budget allocation”? (2) Can the minister confirm that the only reason his department did not record a massive budget deficit was because of an unexpected, unbudgeted windfall of $49.2 million? (3) Is it true that the Department of Health required $31 million in additional funding in June this year just to meet the payment of salaries? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The answer to the last question is a categorical no. The Opposition really does not like it when the Government gets the runs on the board. Members opposite hate the fact that this year our emergency departments are doing tremendously well. We have record levels of utilisation of our ambulances and emergency departments. The Opposition comes into this Chamber sniping around the edges, whingeing, carping and complaining because the Government is getting the runs on the board. I give a simple illustration of this point. Last year in the winter months of May through to August, we had 50 triple diversions of ambulances in tertiary hospitals in Western Australia. Over the same period this year, the figure is five. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: You’re not allowed to report them; that’s why! Mr J.A. McGINTY: What a load of nonsense. That is what I mean: members opposite want to complain that the Government is providing services to the public of Western Australia. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Opposition members come in here complaining that the Government is providing services to the people of Western Australia, and they do not like the fact that the Government has succeeded in what it is doing in health services. They do not like the fact that elective surgery waiting lists are the shortest ever recorded in this State. They do not like the fact we have delivered a balanced budget this year, with a surplus of $0.5 million over a $3.1 billion budget. I make this point in answer to the specific questions raised by the member for Mitchell. It is true that more money was spent on providing service for patients than was originally provided for. That amount was balanced by strict budgetary controls in a host of areas, in which we pulled back a projected deficit of $136 million at the beginning of the financial year and turned it into a $0.5 million surplus at the year’s end. Government members: Hear, hear! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We were paid by the Commonwealth for services provided, particularly for veterans affairs people. Money came back in for services we provided. That always happens in health services. That was budgeted at the end of the year. No, there has not been an injection of money into health services. We balanced our budgets. What we have done is a tremendous tribute to those people who work very hard in our tertiary hospitals, in our hospitals generally and in the Department of Health, to record the best ever financial result in a decade.
(2) Can the minister confirm that the only reason his department did not record a massive budget deficit was because of an unexpected, unbudgeted windfall of $49.2 million? (3) Is it true that the Department of Health required $31 million in additional funding in June this year just to meet the payment of salaries? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The answer to the last question is a categorical no. The Opposition really does not like it when the Government gets the runs on the board. Members opposite hate the fact that this year our emergency departments are doing tremendously well. We have record levels of utilisation of our ambulances and emergency departments. The Opposition comes into this Chamber sniping around the edges, whingeing, carping and complaining because the Government is getting the runs on the board. I give a simple illustration of this point. Last year in the winter months of May through to August, we had 50 triple diversions of ambulances in tertiary hospitals in Western Australia. Over the same period this year, the figure is five. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: You’re not allowed to report them; that’s why! Mr J.A. McGINTY: What a load of nonsense. That is what I mean: members opposite want to complain that the Government is providing services to the public of Western Australia. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Opposition members come in here complaining that the Government is providing services to the people of Western Australia, and they do not like the fact that the Government has succeeded in what it is doing in health services. They do not like the fact that elective surgery waiting lists are the shortest ever recorded in this State. They do not like the fact we have delivered a balanced budget this year, with a surplus of $0.5 million over a $3.1 billion budget. I make this point in answer to the specific questions raised by the member for Mitchell. It is true that more money was spent on providing service for patients than was originally provided for. That amount was balanced by strict budgetary controls in a host of areas, in which we pulled back a projected deficit of $136 million at the beginning of the financial year and turned it into a $0.5 million surplus at the year’s end. Government members: Hear, hear! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We were paid by the Commonwealth for services provided, particularly for veterans affairs people. Money came back in for services we provided. That always happens in health services. That was budgeted at the end of the year. No, there has not been an injection of money into health services. We balanced our budgets. What we have done is a tremendous tribute to those people who work very hard in our tertiary hospitals, in our hospitals generally and in the Department of Health, to record the best ever financial result in a decade.
(3) Is it true that the Department of Health required $31 million in additional funding in June this year just to meet the payment of salaries? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The answer to the last question is a categorical no. The Opposition really does not like it when the Government gets the runs on the board. Members opposite hate the fact that this year our emergency departments are doing tremendously well. We have record levels of utilisation of our ambulances and emergency departments. The Opposition comes into this Chamber sniping around the edges, whingeing, carping and complaining because the Government is getting the runs on the board. I give a simple illustration of this point. Last year in the winter months of May through to August, we had 50 triple diversions of ambulances in tertiary hospitals in Western Australia. Over the same period this year, the figure is five. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: You’re not allowed to report them; that’s why! Mr J.A. McGINTY: What a load of nonsense. That is what I mean: members opposite want to complain that the Government is providing services to the public of Western Australia. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Opposition members come in here complaining that the Government is providing services to the people of Western Australia, and they do not like the fact that the Government has succeeded in what it is doing in health services. They do not like the fact that elective surgery waiting lists are the shortest ever recorded in this State. They do not like the fact we have delivered a balanced budget this year, with a surplus of $0.5 million over a $3.1 billion budget. I make this point in answer to the specific questions raised by the member for Mitchell. It is true that more money was spent on providing service for patients than was originally provided for. That amount was balanced by strict budgetary controls in a host of areas, in which we pulled back a projected deficit of $136 million at the beginning of the financial year and turned it into a $0.5 million surplus at the year’s end. Government members: Hear, hear! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We were paid by the Commonwealth for services provided, particularly for veterans affairs people. Money came back in for services we provided. That always happens in health services. That was budgeted at the end of the year. No, there has not been an injection of money into health services. We balanced our budgets. What we have done is a tremendous tribute to those people who work very hard in our tertiary hospitals, in our hospitals generally and in the Department of Health, to record the best ever financial result in a decade.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The answer to the last question is a categorical no. The Opposition really does not like it when the Government gets the runs on the board. Members opposite hate the fact that this year our emergency departments are doing tremendously well. We have record levels of utilisation of our ambulances and emergency departments. The Opposition comes into this Chamber sniping around the edges, whingeing, carping and complaining because the Government is getting the runs on the board. I give a simple illustration of this point. Last year in the winter months of May through to August, we had 50 triple diversions of ambulances in tertiary hospitals in Western Australia. Over the same period this year, the figure is five. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: You’re not allowed to report them; that’s why! Mr J.A. McGINTY: What a load of nonsense. That is what I mean: members opposite want to complain that the Government is providing services to the public of Western Australia. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Opposition members come in here complaining that the Government is providing services to the people of Western Australia, and they do not like the fact that the Government has succeeded in what it is doing in health services. They do not like the fact that elective surgery waiting lists are the shortest ever recorded in this State. They do not like the fact we have delivered a balanced budget this year, with a surplus of $0.5 million over a $3.1 billion budget. I make this point in answer to the specific questions raised by the member for Mitchell. It is true that more money was spent on providing service for patients than was originally provided for. That amount was balanced by strict budgetary controls in a host of areas, in which we pulled back a projected deficit of $136 million at the beginning of the financial year and turned it into a $0.5 million surplus at the year’s end. Government members: Hear, hear! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We were paid by the Commonwealth for services provided, particularly for veterans affairs people. Money came back in for services we provided. That always happens in health services. That was budgeted at the end of the year. No, there has not been an injection of money into health services. We balanced our budgets. What we have done is a tremendous tribute to those people who work very hard in our tertiary hospitals, in our hospitals generally and in the Department of Health, to record the best ever financial result in a decade.
(1)-(3) The answer to the last question is a categorical no. The Opposition really does not like it when the Government gets the runs on the board. Members opposite hate the fact that this year our emergency departments are doing tremendously well. We have record levels of utilisation of our ambulances and emergency departments. The Opposition comes into this Chamber sniping around the edges, whingeing, carping and complaining because the Government is getting the runs on the board. I give a simple illustration of this point. Last year in the winter months of May through to August, we had 50 triple diversions of ambulances in tertiary hospitals in Western Australia. Over the same period this year, the figure is five. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: You’re not allowed to report them; that’s why! Mr J.A. McGINTY: What a load of nonsense. That is what I mean: members opposite want to complain that the Government is providing services to the public of Western Australia. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Opposition members come in here complaining that the Government is providing services to the people of Western Australia, and they do not like the fact that the Government has succeeded in what it is doing in health services. They do not like the fact that elective surgery waiting lists are the shortest ever recorded in this State. They do not like the fact we have delivered a balanced budget this year, with a surplus of $0.5 million over a $3.1 billion budget. I make this point in answer to the specific questions raised by the member for Mitchell. It is true that more money was spent on providing service for patients than was originally provided for. That amount was balanced by strict budgetary controls in a host of areas, in which we pulled back a projected deficit of $136 million at the beginning of the financial year and turned it into a $0.5 million surplus at the year’s end. Government members: Hear, hear! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We were paid by the Commonwealth for services provided, particularly for veterans affairs people. Money came back in for services we provided. That always happens in health services. That was budgeted at the end of the year. No, there has not been an injection of money into health services. We balanced our budgets. What we have done is a tremendous tribute to those people who work very hard in our tertiary hospitals, in our hospitals generally and in the Department of Health, to record the best ever financial result in a decade.
Mr J.L. Bradshaw: You’re not allowed to report them; that’s why! Mr J.A. McGINTY: What a load of nonsense. That is what I mean: members opposite want to complain that the Government is providing services to the public of Western Australia. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Opposition members come in here complaining that the Government is providing services to the people of Western Australia, and they do not like the fact that the Government has succeeded in what it is doing in health services. They do not like the fact that elective surgery waiting lists are the shortest ever recorded in this State. They do not like the fact we have delivered a balanced budget this year, with a surplus of $0.5 million over a $3.1 billion budget. I make this point in answer to the specific questions raised by the member for Mitchell. It is true that more money was spent on providing service for patients than was originally provided for. That amount was balanced by strict budgetary controls in a host of areas, in which we pulled back a projected deficit of $136 million at the beginning of the financial year and turned it into a $0.5 million surplus at the year’s end. Government members: Hear, hear! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We were paid by the Commonwealth for services provided, particularly for veterans affairs people. Money came back in for services we provided. That always happens in health services. That was budgeted at the end of the year. No, there has not been an injection of money into health services. We balanced our budgets. What we have done is a tremendous tribute to those people who work very hard in our tertiary hospitals, in our hospitals generally and in the Department of Health, to record the best ever financial result in a decade.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: What a load of nonsense. That is what I mean: members opposite want to complain that the Government is providing services to the public of Western Australia. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Opposition members come in here complaining that the Government is providing services to the people of Western Australia, and they do not like the fact that the Government has succeeded in what it is doing in health services. They do not like the fact that elective surgery waiting lists are the shortest ever recorded in this State. They do not like the fact we have delivered a balanced budget this year, with a surplus of $0.5 million over a $3.1 billion budget. I make this point in answer to the specific questions raised by the member for Mitchell. It is true that more money was spent on providing service for patients than was originally provided for. That amount was balanced by strict budgetary controls in a host of areas, in which we pulled back a projected deficit of $136 million at the beginning of the financial year and turned it into a $0.5 million surplus at the year’s end. Government members: Hear, hear! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We were paid by the Commonwealth for services provided, particularly for veterans affairs people. Money came back in for services we provided. That always happens in health services. That was budgeted at the end of the year. No, there has not been an injection of money into health services. We balanced our budgets. What we have done is a tremendous tribute to those people who work very hard in our tertiary hospitals, in our hospitals generally and in the Department of Health, to record the best ever financial result in a decade.
The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Opposition members come in here complaining that the Government is providing services to the people of Western Australia, and they do not like the fact that the Government has succeeded in what it is doing in health services. They do not like the fact that elective surgery waiting lists are the shortest ever recorded in this State. They do not like the fact we have delivered a balanced budget this year, with a surplus of $0.5 million over a $3.1 billion budget. I make this point in answer to the specific questions raised by the member for Mitchell. It is true that more money was spent on providing service for patients than was originally provided for. That amount was balanced by strict budgetary controls in a host of areas, in which we pulled back a projected deficit of $136 million at the beginning of the financial year and turned it into a $0.5 million surplus at the year’s end. Government members: Hear, hear! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We were paid by the Commonwealth for services provided, particularly for veterans affairs people. Money came back in for services we provided. That always happens in health services. That was budgeted at the end of the year. No, there has not been an injection of money into health services. We balanced our budgets. What we have done is a tremendous tribute to those people who work very hard in our tertiary hospitals, in our hospitals generally and in the Department of Health, to record the best ever financial result in a decade.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Opposition members come in here complaining that the Government is providing services to the people of Western Australia, and they do not like the fact that the Government has succeeded in what it is doing in health services. They do not like the fact that elective surgery waiting lists are the shortest ever recorded in this State. They do not like the fact we have delivered a balanced budget this year, with a surplus of $0.5 million over a $3.1 billion budget. I make this point in answer to the specific questions raised by the member for Mitchell. It is true that more money was spent on providing service for patients than was originally provided for. That amount was balanced by strict budgetary controls in a host of areas, in which we pulled back a projected deficit of $136 million at the beginning of the financial year and turned it into a $0.5 million surplus at the year’s end. Government members: Hear, hear! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We were paid by the Commonwealth for services provided, particularly for veterans affairs people. Money came back in for services we provided. That always happens in health services. That was budgeted at the end of the year. No, there has not been an injection of money into health services. We balanced our budgets. What we have done is a tremendous tribute to those people who work very hard in our tertiary hospitals, in our hospitals generally and in the Department of Health, to record the best ever financial result in a decade.
I make this point in answer to the specific questions raised by the member for Mitchell. It is true that more money was spent on providing service for patients than was originally provided for. That amount was balanced by strict budgetary controls in a host of areas, in which we pulled back a projected deficit of $136 million at the beginning of the financial year and turned it into a $0.5 million surplus at the year’s end. Government members: Hear, hear! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We were paid by the Commonwealth for services provided, particularly for veterans affairs people. Money came back in for services we provided. That always happens in health services. That was budgeted at the end of the year. No, there has not been an injection of money into health services. We balanced our budgets. What we have done is a tremendous tribute to those people who work very hard in our tertiary hospitals, in our hospitals generally and in the Department of Health, to record the best ever financial result in a decade.
Government members: Hear, hear! Mr J.A. McGINTY: We were paid by the Commonwealth for services provided, particularly for veterans affairs people. Money came back in for services we provided. That always happens in health services. That was budgeted at the end of the year. No, there has not been an injection of money into health services. We balanced our budgets. What we have done is a tremendous tribute to those people who work very hard in our tertiary hospitals, in our hospitals generally and in the Department of Health, to record the best ever financial result in a decade.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: We were paid by the Commonwealth for services provided, particularly for veterans affairs people. Money came back in for services we provided. That always happens in health services. That was budgeted at the end of the year. No, there has not been an injection of money into health services. We balanced our budgets. What we have done is a tremendous tribute to those people who work very hard in our tertiary hospitals, in our hospitals generally and in the Department of Health, to record the best ever financial result in a decade.
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