WA Government Faces Growing Backlog: 137 Unanswered Questions in Education, 99 in Health

WA Government Faces Growing Backlog: 137 Unanswered Questions in Education, 99 in Health

Western Australia's government is accumulating a substantial backlog of unanswered parliamentary questions, with the Education portfolio alone facing 137 outstanding queries. This growing delay in government responsiveness raises concerns about transparency and accountability for crucial public services.

What happened

Across key Western Australian government portfolios, a significant number of Questions on Notice remain unanswered. As of recent parliamentary records, the Education portfolio leads the tally with 137 unanswered questions, followed closely by Health with 99. Other portfolios also show considerable backlogs, including Premier (41), Housing and Works (39), and the Environment (29). These questions, lodged by Members of Parliament, seek detailed information on government operations, policies, and expenditures, with the oldest unanswered questions dating back to March 12, 2026.

What this means for you

If you are a constituent seeking clarity on government actions, the lengthy delays in answering parliamentary questions mean your concerns may not be addressed promptly. For journalists and parliamentary researchers, this backlog represents a challenge in holding ministers and departments accountable for their performance and decision-making, particularly in critical areas like education and health services. Businesses engaging with government, or those reliant on public services, may also experience indirect impacts if policy clarifications or project updates are held up by these unanswered queries.

What this means for WA

This growing accumulation of unanswered parliamentary scrutiny suggests a potential strain on the machinery of government accountability in Western Australia. A consistent delay in responding to elected representatives' questions, especially in portfolios as vital as Education and Health, can erode public trust and signal a reluctance to provide transparent information. It points to a need for improved parliamentary procedural efficiency and a commitment from ministers to timely disclosure, ensuring that the public's right to know is upheld.

The numbers

The scale of the challenge is stark: Education has a backlog of 137 unanswered Questions on Notice, with the oldest dating back to March 12, 2026. Health follows with 99 unanswered questions, the oldest submitted on June 9, 2026. The Premier portfolio has 41 outstanding questions. Notably, the combined cluster of Planning and Lands; Housing and Works; Health Infrastructure has 19 unanswered questions. These figures underscore a widespread issue affecting government responsiveness, as visible in GovScanner's Questions on Notice data.

Find your own data

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