Question regarding the reversal of a decision to install an MRI machine at Fremantle Hospital, previously supported by the prior government, and the issuance of MRI licenses to the private sector. The Minister's response focuses on funding availability and questions the previous government's licensing practices.

AnsweredQoN 779Legislative Assembly
Asked
13 March 2002
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING MACHINE, FREMANTLE HOSPITAL
I do not believe that the minister has answered my question, which was, has Fremantle Hospital put forward a case, and does the minister accept that the previous Government did support the installation, irrespective of the licence, and expected to raise revenue from workers compensation and motor vehicle injury cases. Why has the state Labor Government reversed the decision? The SPEAKER: The purpose of a supplementary question is to ask a short question, not make a long speech. I think the Minister for Health has the gist of the member’s supplementary question. Mr KUCERA

AnswerView source ↗

As I have said, I believe I have answered the question. Mr Board interjected. Mr KUCERA: If the member for Murdoch would like to listen, he will hear the answer. As I have said before, money was set aside for the purchase of the machine. Mrs Edwardes: Provided by the previous Government. Mr KUCERA: It does not matter where it came from; it is within the budget. The money is there for the purchase of the machine. As I said before, one would have to question why, for nine years in this State, the machine licences were issued. As I understand it, all the licences for the private machines were issued post-1998. The allocation of all those machines occurred within a five kilometre area except one, which I understand is in the Fremantle area. All those licences issued post-1998 went to the private sector. One would have to ask not only why it was that the previous Government did not support the issue of a Medicare licence to those public hospitals but also why the Opposition now is actively working against obtaining one for our State and our children. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition for the first time. Some people in this Chamber think that they can interject during question time. I remind the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the National Party that special allowance is made only for the person asking the question. No-one else can interject.
The SPEAKER: The purpose of a supplementary question is to ask a short question, not make a long speech. I think the Minister for Health has the gist of the member’s supplementary question. Mr KUCERA replied: As I have said, I believe I have answered the question. Mr Board interjected. Mr KUCERA: If the member for Murdoch would like to listen, he will hear the answer. As I have said before, money was set aside for the purchase of the machine. Mrs Edwardes: Provided by the previous Government. Mr KUCERA: It does not matter where it came from; it is within the budget. The money is there for the purchase of the machine. As I said before, one would have to question why, for nine years in this State, the machine licences were issued. As I understand it, all the licences for the private machines were issued post-1998. The allocation of all those machines occurred within a five kilometre area except one, which I understand is in the Fremantle area. All those licences issued post-1998 went to the private sector. One would have to ask not only why it was that the previous Government did not support the issue of a Medicare licence to those public hospitals but also why the Opposition now is actively working against obtaining one for our State and our children. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition for the first time. Some people in this Chamber think that they can interject during question time. I remind the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the National Party that special allowance is made only for the person asking the question. No-one else can interject.
Mr KUCERA replied: As I have said, I believe I have answered the question. Mr Board interjected. Mr KUCERA: If the member for Murdoch would like to listen, he will hear the answer. As I have said before, money was set aside for the purchase of the machine. Mrs Edwardes: Provided by the previous Government. Mr KUCERA: It does not matter where it came from; it is within the budget. The money is there for the purchase of the machine. As I said before, one would have to question why, for nine years in this State, the machine licences were issued. As I understand it, all the licences for the private machines were issued post-1998. The allocation of all those machines occurred within a five kilometre area except one, which I understand is in the Fremantle area. All those licences issued post-1998 went to the private sector. One would have to ask not only why it was that the previous Government did not support the issue of a Medicare licence to those public hospitals but also why the Opposition now is actively working against obtaining one for our State and our children. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition for the first time. Some people in this Chamber think that they can interject during question time. I remind the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the National Party that special allowance is made only for the person asking the question. No-one else can interject.
As I have said, I believe I have answered the question. Mr Board interjected. Mr KUCERA: If the member for Murdoch would like to listen, he will hear the answer. As I have said before, money was set aside for the purchase of the machine. Mrs Edwardes: Provided by the previous Government. Mr KUCERA: It does not matter where it came from; it is within the budget. The money is there for the purchase of the machine. As I said before, one would have to question why, for nine years in this State, the machine licences were issued. As I understand it, all the licences for the private machines were issued post-1998. The allocation of all those machines occurred within a five kilometre area except one, which I understand is in the Fremantle area. All those licences issued post-1998 went to the private sector. One would have to ask not only why it was that the previous Government did not support the issue of a Medicare licence to those public hospitals but also why the Opposition now is actively working against obtaining one for our State and our children. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition for the first time. Some people in this Chamber think that they can interject during question time. I remind the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the National Party that special allowance is made only for the person asking the question. No-one else can interject.
Mr Board interjected. Mr KUCERA: If the member for Murdoch would like to listen, he will hear the answer. As I have said before, money was set aside for the purchase of the machine. Mrs Edwardes: Provided by the previous Government. Mr KUCERA: It does not matter where it came from; it is within the budget. The money is there for the purchase of the machine. As I said before, one would have to question why, for nine years in this State, the machine licences were issued. As I understand it, all the licences for the private machines were issued post-1998. The allocation of all those machines occurred within a five kilometre area except one, which I understand is in the Fremantle area. All those licences issued post-1998 went to the private sector. One would have to ask not only why it was that the previous Government did not support the issue of a Medicare licence to those public hospitals but also why the Opposition now is actively working against obtaining one for our State and our children. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition for the first time. Some people in this Chamber think that they can interject during question time. I remind the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the National Party that special allowance is made only for the person asking the question. No-one else can interject.
Mr KUCERA: If the member for Murdoch would like to listen, he will hear the answer. As I have said before, money was set aside for the purchase of the machine. Mrs Edwardes: Provided by the previous Government. Mr KUCERA: It does not matter where it came from; it is within the budget. The money is there for the purchase of the machine. As I said before, one would have to question why, for nine years in this State, the machine licences were issued. As I understand it, all the licences for the private machines were issued post-1998. The allocation of all those machines occurred within a five kilometre area except one, which I understand is in the Fremantle area. All those licences issued post-1998 went to the private sector. One would have to ask not only why it was that the previous Government did not support the issue of a Medicare licence to those public hospitals but also why the Opposition now is actively working against obtaining one for our State and our children. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition for the first time. Some people in this Chamber think that they can interject during question time. I remind the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the National Party that special allowance is made only for the person asking the question. No-one else can interject.
Mrs Edwardes: Provided by the previous Government. Mr KUCERA: It does not matter where it came from; it is within the budget. The money is there for the purchase of the machine. As I said before, one would have to question why, for nine years in this State, the machine licences were issued. As I understand it, all the licences for the private machines were issued post-1998. The allocation of all those machines occurred within a five kilometre area except one, which I understand is in the Fremantle area. All those licences issued post-1998 went to the private sector. One would have to ask not only why it was that the previous Government did not support the issue of a Medicare licence to those public hospitals but also why the Opposition now is actively working against obtaining one for our State and our children. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition for the first time. Some people in this Chamber think that they can interject during question time. I remind the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the National Party that special allowance is made only for the person asking the question. No-one else can interject.
Mr KUCERA: It does not matter where it came from; it is within the budget. The money is there for the purchase of the machine. As I said before, one would have to question why, for nine years in this State, the machine licences were issued. As I understand it, all the licences for the private machines were issued post-1998. The allocation of all those machines occurred within a five kilometre area except one, which I understand is in the Fremantle area. All those licences issued post-1998 went to the private sector. One would have to ask not only why it was that the previous Government did not support the issue of a Medicare licence to those public hospitals but also why the Opposition now is actively working against obtaining one for our State and our children. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition for the first time. Some people in this Chamber think that they can interject during question time. I remind the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the National Party that special allowance is made only for the person asking the question. No-one else can interject.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition for the first time. Some people in this Chamber think that they can interject during question time. I remind the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the National Party that special allowance is made only for the person asking the question. No-one else can interject.
The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition for the first time. Some people in this Chamber think that they can interject during question time. I remind the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the National Party that special allowance is made only for the person asking the question. No-one else can interject.

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