❓ Hon Martin Aldridge questions the government on its consideration and implementation of recommendations from a 2015 report on the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS). The government acknowledges the report, states some recommendations have been addressed, but cites financial constraints as a barrier to further improvements.
AnsweredQoN 815Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PATIENT ASSISTED TRAVEL
SCHEME
815. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the twenty-fifth report
of the Standing Committee on Public Administration, ''Report on the
Patient Assisted Travel Scheme in Western Australia''.
(1) Has the state
government formally considered the report and its recommendations?
(2) On what date
did the state cabinet make such consideration?
(3) Does the government agree with the
recommendations contained within the report; and, if so, to what extent?
(4) What action
has the government taken to implement agreed recommendations?
SCHEME
815. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the twenty-fifth report
of the Standing Committee on Public Administration, ''Report on the
Patient Assisted Travel Scheme in Western Australia''.
(1) Has the state
government formally considered the report and its recommendations?
(2) On what date
did the state cabinet make such consideration?
(3) Does the government agree with the
recommendations contained within the report; and, if so, to what extent?
(4) What action
has the government taken to implement agreed recommendations?
AnswerView source ↗
I
thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I note that this
question was asked on 12 June 2018 and it is now 13 September. The
answer was current at 12 June and I have not sought an update on this answer.
(1) The Standing Committee on Public Administration
tabled its report on the patient assisted travel scheme on Tuesday, 16 June
2015. The then state government's response to the report was provided
on 17 August 2015 and is publicly available.
(2) The report on
the patient assisted travel scheme in Western Australia in question was tabled under
the previous government. The dates, if any, on which the report was considered
by cabinet under the previous government are not within the knowledge of the
current government.
(3) The current
government has not altered the course of action adopted by the previous
government in response to the report. As recognised by the previous government,
extra funding would enhance the scheme, but any additional funding needs to be
considered in the context of all other competing demands for government
funding. Although the fiscal environment is presently difficult, there are
currently no plans to increase the PATS subsidy; however, this is something
that the government is prepared to revisit in the future, when there is greater
financial capacity to do so.
(4) Recommendations
6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 19, 20, and 21 have been addressed. Recommendation 17 is
currently being addressed.
I reiterate that
that answer was current as of 12 June.
thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I note that this
question was asked on 12 June 2018 and it is now 13 September. The
answer was current at 12 June and I have not sought an update on this answer.
(1) The Standing Committee on Public Administration
tabled its report on the patient assisted travel scheme on Tuesday, 16 June
2015. The then state government's response to the report was provided
on 17 August 2015 and is publicly available.
(2) The report on
the patient assisted travel scheme in Western Australia in question was tabled under
the previous government. The dates, if any, on which the report was considered
by cabinet under the previous government are not within the knowledge of the
current government.
(3) The current
government has not altered the course of action adopted by the previous
government in response to the report. As recognised by the previous government,
extra funding would enhance the scheme, but any additional funding needs to be
considered in the context of all other competing demands for government
funding. Although the fiscal environment is presently difficult, there are
currently no plans to increase the PATS subsidy; however, this is something
that the government is prepared to revisit in the future, when there is greater
financial capacity to do so.
(4) Recommendations
6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 19, 20, and 21 have been addressed. Recommendation 17 is
currently being addressed.
I reiterate that
that answer was current as of 12 June.
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