❓ A parliamentary question addresses a potential breach of the Financial Management Act involving the Metropolitan Health Service accessing special purpose funds. The Treasurer acknowledges the question but is initially unable to answer all parts, promising further information later.
AnsweredQoN 872Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
METROPOLITAN HEALTH SERVICE — SPECIAL PURPOSE FUNDS
I refer to the breach of the Financial Management Act by the Minister for Health and the Metropolitan Health Service, in accessing $24.9 million in special purpose funds. (1) Did the Treasurer approve this $24.9 million cash drawdown? (2) When did the Treasurer become aware of this breach? (3) Were any of the $24.9 million drawn down funds advanced by the commonwealth government for specific purposes? (4) Was this measure contrived to mask an additional $24.9 million budget blow-out in the Department of Health budget for the 2008-09 financial year, or to avoid breaking the already expanded Treasurer’s advance limit? (5) Has any other agency taken a similar measure in 2008-09? Mr T.R. BUSWELL
I refer to the breach of the Financial Management Act by the Minister for Health and the Metropolitan Health Service, in accessing $24.9 million in special purpose funds. (1) Did the Treasurer approve this $24.9 million cash drawdown? (2) When did the Treasurer become aware of this breach? (3) Were any of the $24.9 million drawn down funds advanced by the commonwealth government for specific purposes? (4) Was this measure contrived to mask an additional $24.9 million budget blow-out in the Department of Health budget for the 2008-09 financial year, or to avoid breaking the already expanded Treasurer’s advance limit? (5) Has any other agency taken a similar measure in 2008-09? Mr T.R. BUSWELL
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for providing some notice of the question, although, unfortunately, not quite enough notice—I do not have an answer to two parts of the question, notwithstanding the best efforts of the people in Treasury. When I am provided with those answers, I will provide them to the house. Mr E.S. Ripper : The health department won’t tell them? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : No; I will provide them to the house; it is just a time matter. The answers I can provide are — (1) No. (2)-(3) That is advice that I will provide to the house later in the day. (4) No. (5) As I understand it, the Auditor General’s report has not identified any other agencies that have used accounts in this way, and did not qualify any other agencies for that purpose.
(1) Did the Treasurer approve this $24.9 million cash drawdown? (2) When did the Treasurer become aware of this breach? (3) Were any of the $24.9 million drawn down funds advanced by the commonwealth government for specific purposes? (4) Was this measure contrived to mask an additional $24.9 million budget blow-out in the Department of Health budget for the 2008-09 financial year, or to avoid breaking the already expanded Treasurer’s advance limit? (5) Has any other agency taken a similar measure in 2008-09? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: I thank the member for providing some notice of the question, although, unfortunately, not quite enough notice—I do not have an answer to two parts of the question, notwithstanding the best efforts of the people in Treasury. When I am provided with those answers, I will provide them to the house. Mr E.S. Ripper : The health department won’t tell them? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : No; I will provide them to the house; it is just a time matter. The answers I can provide are — (1) No. (2)-(3) That is advice that I will provide to the house later in the day. (4) No. (5) As I understand it, the Auditor General’s report has not identified any other agencies that have used accounts in this way, and did not qualify any other agencies for that purpose.
(2) When did the Treasurer become aware of this breach? (3) Were any of the $24.9 million drawn down funds advanced by the commonwealth government for specific purposes? (4) Was this measure contrived to mask an additional $24.9 million budget blow-out in the Department of Health budget for the 2008-09 financial year, or to avoid breaking the already expanded Treasurer’s advance limit? (5) Has any other agency taken a similar measure in 2008-09? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: I thank the member for providing some notice of the question, although, unfortunately, not quite enough notice—I do not have an answer to two parts of the question, notwithstanding the best efforts of the people in Treasury. When I am provided with those answers, I will provide them to the house. Mr E.S. Ripper : The health department won’t tell them? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : No; I will provide them to the house; it is just a time matter. The answers I can provide are — (1) No. (2)-(3) That is advice that I will provide to the house later in the day. (4) No. (5) As I understand it, the Auditor General’s report has not identified any other agencies that have used accounts in this way, and did not qualify any other agencies for that purpose.
(3) Were any of the $24.9 million drawn down funds advanced by the commonwealth government for specific purposes? (4) Was this measure contrived to mask an additional $24.9 million budget blow-out in the Department of Health budget for the 2008-09 financial year, or to avoid breaking the already expanded Treasurer’s advance limit? (5) Has any other agency taken a similar measure in 2008-09? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: I thank the member for providing some notice of the question, although, unfortunately, not quite enough notice—I do not have an answer to two parts of the question, notwithstanding the best efforts of the people in Treasury. When I am provided with those answers, I will provide them to the house. Mr E.S. Ripper : The health department won’t tell them? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : No; I will provide them to the house; it is just a time matter. The answers I can provide are — (1) No. (2)-(3) That is advice that I will provide to the house later in the day. (4) No. (5) As I understand it, the Auditor General’s report has not identified any other agencies that have used accounts in this way, and did not qualify any other agencies for that purpose.
(4) Was this measure contrived to mask an additional $24.9 million budget blow-out in the Department of Health budget for the 2008-09 financial year, or to avoid breaking the already expanded Treasurer’s advance limit? (5) Has any other agency taken a similar measure in 2008-09? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: I thank the member for providing some notice of the question, although, unfortunately, not quite enough notice—I do not have an answer to two parts of the question, notwithstanding the best efforts of the people in Treasury. When I am provided with those answers, I will provide them to the house. Mr E.S. Ripper : The health department won’t tell them? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : No; I will provide them to the house; it is just a time matter. The answers I can provide are — (1) No. (2)-(3) That is advice that I will provide to the house later in the day. (4) No. (5) As I understand it, the Auditor General’s report has not identified any other agencies that have used accounts in this way, and did not qualify any other agencies for that purpose.
(5) Has any other agency taken a similar measure in 2008-09? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: I thank the member for providing some notice of the question, although, unfortunately, not quite enough notice—I do not have an answer to two parts of the question, notwithstanding the best efforts of the people in Treasury. When I am provided with those answers, I will provide them to the house. Mr E.S. Ripper : The health department won’t tell them? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : No; I will provide them to the house; it is just a time matter. The answers I can provide are — (1) No. (2)-(3) That is advice that I will provide to the house later in the day. (4) No. (5) As I understand it, the Auditor General’s report has not identified any other agencies that have used accounts in this way, and did not qualify any other agencies for that purpose.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: I thank the member for providing some notice of the question, although, unfortunately, not quite enough notice—I do not have an answer to two parts of the question, notwithstanding the best efforts of the people in Treasury. When I am provided with those answers, I will provide them to the house. Mr E.S. Ripper : The health department won’t tell them? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : No; I will provide them to the house; it is just a time matter. The answers I can provide are — (1) No. (2)-(3) That is advice that I will provide to the house later in the day. (4) No. (5) As I understand it, the Auditor General’s report has not identified any other agencies that have used accounts in this way, and did not qualify any other agencies for that purpose.
I thank the member for providing some notice of the question, although, unfortunately, not quite enough notice—I do not have an answer to two parts of the question, notwithstanding the best efforts of the people in Treasury. When I am provided with those answers, I will provide them to the house. Mr E.S. Ripper : The health department won’t tell them? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : No; I will provide them to the house; it is just a time matter. The answers I can provide are — (1) No. (2)-(3) That is advice that I will provide to the house later in the day. (4) No. (5) As I understand it, the Auditor General’s report has not identified any other agencies that have used accounts in this way, and did not qualify any other agencies for that purpose.
Mr E.S. Ripper : The health department won’t tell them? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : No; I will provide them to the house; it is just a time matter. The answers I can provide are — (1) No. (2)-(3) That is advice that I will provide to the house later in the day. (4) No. (5) As I understand it, the Auditor General’s report has not identified any other agencies that have used accounts in this way, and did not qualify any other agencies for that purpose.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : No; I will provide them to the house; it is just a time matter. The answers I can provide are — (1) No. (2)-(3) That is advice that I will provide to the house later in the day. (4) No. (5) As I understand it, the Auditor General’s report has not identified any other agencies that have used accounts in this way, and did not qualify any other agencies for that purpose.
(1) No. (2)-(3) That is advice that I will provide to the house later in the day. (4) No. (5) As I understand it, the Auditor General’s report has not identified any other agencies that have used accounts in this way, and did not qualify any other agencies for that purpose.
(2)-(3) That is advice that I will provide to the house later in the day. (4) No. (5) As I understand it, the Auditor General’s report has not identified any other agencies that have used accounts in this way, and did not qualify any other agencies for that purpose.
(4) No. (5) As I understand it, the Auditor General’s report has not identified any other agencies that have used accounts in this way, and did not qualify any other agencies for that purpose.
(5) As I understand it, the Auditor General’s report has not identified any other agencies that have used accounts in this way, and did not qualify any other agencies for that purpose.
(1) Did the Treasurer approve this $24.9 million cash drawdown? (2) When did the Treasurer become aware of this breach? (3) Were any of the $24.9 million drawn down funds advanced by the commonwealth government for specific purposes? (4) Was this measure contrived to mask an additional $24.9 million budget blow-out in the Department of Health budget for the 2008-09 financial year, or to avoid breaking the already expanded Treasurer’s advance limit? (5) Has any other agency taken a similar measure in 2008-09? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: I thank the member for providing some notice of the question, although, unfortunately, not quite enough notice—I do not have an answer to two parts of the question, notwithstanding the best efforts of the people in Treasury. When I am provided with those answers, I will provide them to the house. Mr E.S. Ripper : The health department won’t tell them? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : No; I will provide them to the house; it is just a time matter. The answers I can provide are — (1) No. (2)-(3) That is advice that I will provide to the house later in the day. (4) No. (5) As I understand it, the Auditor General’s report has not identified any other agencies that have used accounts in this way, and did not qualify any other agencies for that purpose.
(2) When did the Treasurer become aware of this breach? (3) Were any of the $24.9 million drawn down funds advanced by the commonwealth government for specific purposes? (4) Was this measure contrived to mask an additional $24.9 million budget blow-out in the Department of Health budget for the 2008-09 financial year, or to avoid breaking the already expanded Treasurer’s advance limit? (5) Has any other agency taken a similar measure in 2008-09? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: I thank the member for providing some notice of the question, although, unfortunately, not quite enough notice—I do not have an answer to two parts of the question, notwithstanding the best efforts of the people in Treasury. When I am provided with those answers, I will provide them to the house. Mr E.S. Ripper : The health department won’t tell them? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : No; I will provide them to the house; it is just a time matter. The answers I can provide are — (1) No. (2)-(3) That is advice that I will provide to the house later in the day. (4) No. (5) As I understand it, the Auditor General’s report has not identified any other agencies that have used accounts in this way, and did not qualify any other agencies for that purpose.
(3) Were any of the $24.9 million drawn down funds advanced by the commonwealth government for specific purposes? (4) Was this measure contrived to mask an additional $24.9 million budget blow-out in the Department of Health budget for the 2008-09 financial year, or to avoid breaking the already expanded Treasurer’s advance limit? (5) Has any other agency taken a similar measure in 2008-09? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: I thank the member for providing some notice of the question, although, unfortunately, not quite enough notice—I do not have an answer to two parts of the question, notwithstanding the best efforts of the people in Treasury. When I am provided with those answers, I will provide them to the house. Mr E.S. Ripper : The health department won’t tell them? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : No; I will provide them to the house; it is just a time matter. The answers I can provide are — (1) No. (2)-(3) That is advice that I will provide to the house later in the day. (4) No. (5) As I understand it, the Auditor General’s report has not identified any other agencies that have used accounts in this way, and did not qualify any other agencies for that purpose.
(4) Was this measure contrived to mask an additional $24.9 million budget blow-out in the Department of Health budget for the 2008-09 financial year, or to avoid breaking the already expanded Treasurer’s advance limit? (5) Has any other agency taken a similar measure in 2008-09? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: I thank the member for providing some notice of the question, although, unfortunately, not quite enough notice—I do not have an answer to two parts of the question, notwithstanding the best efforts of the people in Treasury. When I am provided with those answers, I will provide them to the house. Mr E.S. Ripper : The health department won’t tell them? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : No; I will provide them to the house; it is just a time matter. The answers I can provide are — (1) No. (2)-(3) That is advice that I will provide to the house later in the day. (4) No. (5) As I understand it, the Auditor General’s report has not identified any other agencies that have used accounts in this way, and did not qualify any other agencies for that purpose.
(5) Has any other agency taken a similar measure in 2008-09? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: I thank the member for providing some notice of the question, although, unfortunately, not quite enough notice—I do not have an answer to two parts of the question, notwithstanding the best efforts of the people in Treasury. When I am provided with those answers, I will provide them to the house. Mr E.S. Ripper : The health department won’t tell them? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : No; I will provide them to the house; it is just a time matter. The answers I can provide are — (1) No. (2)-(3) That is advice that I will provide to the house later in the day. (4) No. (5) As I understand it, the Auditor General’s report has not identified any other agencies that have used accounts in this way, and did not qualify any other agencies for that purpose.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: I thank the member for providing some notice of the question, although, unfortunately, not quite enough notice—I do not have an answer to two parts of the question, notwithstanding the best efforts of the people in Treasury. When I am provided with those answers, I will provide them to the house. Mr E.S. Ripper : The health department won’t tell them? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : No; I will provide them to the house; it is just a time matter. The answers I can provide are — (1) No. (2)-(3) That is advice that I will provide to the house later in the day. (4) No. (5) As I understand it, the Auditor General’s report has not identified any other agencies that have used accounts in this way, and did not qualify any other agencies for that purpose.
I thank the member for providing some notice of the question, although, unfortunately, not quite enough notice—I do not have an answer to two parts of the question, notwithstanding the best efforts of the people in Treasury. When I am provided with those answers, I will provide them to the house. Mr E.S. Ripper : The health department won’t tell them? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : No; I will provide them to the house; it is just a time matter. The answers I can provide are — (1) No. (2)-(3) That is advice that I will provide to the house later in the day. (4) No. (5) As I understand it, the Auditor General’s report has not identified any other agencies that have used accounts in this way, and did not qualify any other agencies for that purpose.
Mr E.S. Ripper : The health department won’t tell them? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : No; I will provide them to the house; it is just a time matter. The answers I can provide are — (1) No. (2)-(3) That is advice that I will provide to the house later in the day. (4) No. (5) As I understand it, the Auditor General’s report has not identified any other agencies that have used accounts in this way, and did not qualify any other agencies for that purpose.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : No; I will provide them to the house; it is just a time matter. The answers I can provide are — (1) No. (2)-(3) That is advice that I will provide to the house later in the day. (4) No. (5) As I understand it, the Auditor General’s report has not identified any other agencies that have used accounts in this way, and did not qualify any other agencies for that purpose.
(1) No. (2)-(3) That is advice that I will provide to the house later in the day. (4) No. (5) As I understand it, the Auditor General’s report has not identified any other agencies that have used accounts in this way, and did not qualify any other agencies for that purpose.
(2)-(3) That is advice that I will provide to the house later in the day. (4) No. (5) As I understand it, the Auditor General’s report has not identified any other agencies that have used accounts in this way, and did not qualify any other agencies for that purpose.
(4) No. (5) As I understand it, the Auditor General’s report has not identified any other agencies that have used accounts in this way, and did not qualify any other agencies for that purpose.
(5) As I understand it, the Auditor General’s report has not identified any other agencies that have used accounts in this way, and did not qualify any other agencies for that purpose.
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