Page 732 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 12 March 1991
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In December 1989, one of his first acts as Minister was to receive a report by Treasury officials on the hospital budget blow-out - officials sent in by the Follett Government. In other words, the Follett Labor Government uncovered the problem. We uncovered the problem, and we provided the answers as soon as the problem was identified.
What did the report say? I will just give you a few quotes from the report. See whether you can remember them, Mr Humphries. I know that it was 15 months ago and that it might be too much trouble for you, but the report said:
The principle of living within a budget is not well embedded at all levels in the hospitals and needs every encouragement.
That is what the report said. Why did you not do something about it? Here is another quote; try this one:
Treasury does not accept that the functions undertaken by HSD could not be done more efficiently.
That was 15 months ago, Mr Humphries. Here is another quote:
A major problem identified by Treasury is the program management within the Hospital Services Division. The current structure is not working.
Do you remember that one, Mr Minister? That was 15 months ago. Here is another one:
Treasury is also concerned at the lack of financial analysis and control.
That was 15 months ago, and what did you do? Nothing. That is why our hospital system is in such disarray and crisis. Not only is it not providing services but it is costing more. He talks about improved information systems; but he knows, of course, that they were part of the 1989 Follett budget. In the no-confidence motion of 5 December 1989 he said:
Mr Speaker, I have to confess that the problems encountered in education pale into insignificance when compared with the Government's appalling performance in the area of health.
The Chief Minister has said that there is no justification for today's no-confidence motion. I believe ... that her Government's failure to deal with the problems confronting our hospital system alone justifies the sacking of this Government.
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