❓ Opposition questions the Health Minister's comments about the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) and funding negotiations. The Minister defends his remarks as part of the budget process and declines to discuss funding details publicly.
AnsweredQoN 246Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE — COMMENTS BY MINISTER FOR HEALTH
I refer to the denials by the minister and the Premier yesterday that the minister had called the Royal Flying Doctor Service an interest group. I refer to the minister’s interview with ABC News on 13 May. After he suggested the RFDS was an interest group, the interviewer said — “Is it fair to call the flying doctor service an interest group?” The minister responded — “Well, that’s what they are.” I refer also to the minister’s disgraceful comments that $68 million over five years was an ambit claim when he, as the minister, should know that this amount was not put forward by the RFDS, but was developed independently, paid for and signed off jointly by the country health department and the RFDS. Would the minister apologise to the RFDS and to this house for yesterday’s untruthful and misleading comments? Mr J.A. McGINTY
I refer to the denials by the minister and the Premier yesterday that the minister had called the Royal Flying Doctor Service an interest group. I refer to the minister’s interview with ABC News on 13 May. After he suggested the RFDS was an interest group, the interviewer said — “Is it fair to call the flying doctor service an interest group?” The minister responded — “Well, that’s what they are.” I refer also to the minister’s disgraceful comments that $68 million over five years was an ambit claim when he, as the minister, should know that this amount was not put forward by the RFDS, but was developed independently, paid for and signed off jointly by the country health department and the RFDS. Would the minister apologise to the RFDS and to this house for yesterday’s untruthful and misleading comments? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
As members are aware from the debate that took place yesterday, I was asked a question by a journalist in Albany and I made a general comment about the nature of the budget process. That comment is something that is common to anyone who has been through a budget and the opportunities that are taken to comment on the allocations that are made. In respect of the second point raised by the member for Dawesville, we are in the middle of negotiations with the Royal Flying Doctor Service to determine an appropriate level of funding to enable it to meet its needs. I do not intend to conduct those negotiations in the public arena. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : I am sure I heard the member for Dawesville utter an unparliamentary statement. I direct him to withdraw the statement that he made against the Minister for Health. Dr K.D. HAMES : I do not recall what I said. The SPEAKER : You indicated that he was untruthful. Dr K.D. HAMES : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: As members are aware from the debate that took place yesterday, I was asked a question by a journalist in Albany and I made a general comment about the nature of the budget process. That comment is something that is common to anyone who has been through a budget and the opportunities that are taken to comment on the allocations that are made. In respect of the second point raised by the member for Dawesville, we are in the middle of negotiations with the Royal Flying Doctor Service to determine an appropriate level of funding to enable it to meet its needs. I do not intend to conduct those negotiations in the public arena. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : I am sure I heard the member for Dawesville utter an unparliamentary statement. I direct him to withdraw the statement that he made against the Minister for Health. Dr K.D. HAMES : I do not recall what I said. The SPEAKER : You indicated that he was untruthful. Dr K.D. HAMES : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed
As members are aware from the debate that took place yesterday, I was asked a question by a journalist in Albany and I made a general comment about the nature of the budget process. That comment is something that is common to anyone who has been through a budget and the opportunities that are taken to comment on the allocations that are made. In respect of the second point raised by the member for Dawesville, we are in the middle of negotiations with the Royal Flying Doctor Service to determine an appropriate level of funding to enable it to meet its needs. I do not intend to conduct those negotiations in the public arena. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : I am sure I heard the member for Dawesville utter an unparliamentary statement. I direct him to withdraw the statement that he made against the Minister for Health. Dr K.D. HAMES : I do not recall what I said. The SPEAKER : You indicated that he was untruthful. Dr K.D. HAMES : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed
In respect of the second point raised by the member for Dawesville, we are in the middle of negotiations with the Royal Flying Doctor Service to determine an appropriate level of funding to enable it to meet its needs. I do not intend to conduct those negotiations in the public arena. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : I am sure I heard the member for Dawesville utter an unparliamentary statement. I direct him to withdraw the statement that he made against the Minister for Health. Dr K.D. HAMES : I do not recall what I said. The SPEAKER : You indicated that he was untruthful. Dr K.D. HAMES : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed
Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : I am sure I heard the member for Dawesville utter an unparliamentary statement. I direct him to withdraw the statement that he made against the Minister for Health. Dr K.D. HAMES : I do not recall what I said. The SPEAKER : You indicated that he was untruthful. Dr K.D. HAMES : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed
Dr K.D. HAMES : I do not recall what I said. The SPEAKER : You indicated that he was untruthful. Dr K.D. HAMES : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed
The SPEAKER : You indicated that he was untruthful. Dr K.D. HAMES : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed
Dr K.D. HAMES : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: As members are aware from the debate that took place yesterday, I was asked a question by a journalist in Albany and I made a general comment about the nature of the budget process. That comment is something that is common to anyone who has been through a budget and the opportunities that are taken to comment on the allocations that are made. In respect of the second point raised by the member for Dawesville, we are in the middle of negotiations with the Royal Flying Doctor Service to determine an appropriate level of funding to enable it to meet its needs. I do not intend to conduct those negotiations in the public arena. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : I am sure I heard the member for Dawesville utter an unparliamentary statement. I direct him to withdraw the statement that he made against the Minister for Health. Dr K.D. HAMES : I do not recall what I said. The SPEAKER : You indicated that he was untruthful. Dr K.D. HAMES : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed
As members are aware from the debate that took place yesterday, I was asked a question by a journalist in Albany and I made a general comment about the nature of the budget process. That comment is something that is common to anyone who has been through a budget and the opportunities that are taken to comment on the allocations that are made. In respect of the second point raised by the member for Dawesville, we are in the middle of negotiations with the Royal Flying Doctor Service to determine an appropriate level of funding to enable it to meet its needs. I do not intend to conduct those negotiations in the public arena. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : I am sure I heard the member for Dawesville utter an unparliamentary statement. I direct him to withdraw the statement that he made against the Minister for Health. Dr K.D. HAMES : I do not recall what I said. The SPEAKER : You indicated that he was untruthful. Dr K.D. HAMES : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed
In respect of the second point raised by the member for Dawesville, we are in the middle of negotiations with the Royal Flying Doctor Service to determine an appropriate level of funding to enable it to meet its needs. I do not intend to conduct those negotiations in the public arena. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : I am sure I heard the member for Dawesville utter an unparliamentary statement. I direct him to withdraw the statement that he made against the Minister for Health. Dr K.D. HAMES : I do not recall what I said. The SPEAKER : You indicated that he was untruthful. Dr K.D. HAMES : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed
Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : I am sure I heard the member for Dawesville utter an unparliamentary statement. I direct him to withdraw the statement that he made against the Minister for Health. Dr K.D. HAMES : I do not recall what I said. The SPEAKER : You indicated that he was untruthful. Dr K.D. HAMES : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed
Dr K.D. HAMES : I do not recall what I said. The SPEAKER : You indicated that he was untruthful. Dr K.D. HAMES : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed
The SPEAKER : You indicated that he was untruthful. Dr K.D. HAMES : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed
Dr K.D. HAMES : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed
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