Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 1 Hansard (19 February) . . Page.. 177 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

Yes, quarterly reports will be available, quarterly reports against our contracts with our hospitals; in other words, outputs-based quarterly reports, Mr Speaker.

Mr Whitecross: When will they be available?

MRS CARNELL: We are getting there; we will get there with those.

Mr Berry: You stopped producing these without - - -

Mr Whitecross: We are still waiting for the September one.

MRS CARNELL: They are not required under the Financial Management Act. But I am saying that when we have the systems right to do them they will be provided. The reality is that we are moving, certainly a step at a time, to have more and more data available in Health. Already we have moved to monthly reports for both hospitals and whole-of-government financial reports; I am happy to add the public health information to the monthly reports. But, Mr Speaker, we cannot undo the Financial Management Act that we all passed. We now operate on an accrual system; we do not collect data on a cash basis anymore.

Mr Whitecross: That has nothing to do with it.

MRS CARNELL: It actually has everything to do with it. We are providing monthly reports on where Health is up to, at hospital level, at community level and at whole-of-department level. All of that is there, Mr Speaker, so that everyone can see whether we are tracking up or tracking down. We will be providing quarterly outputs statements, assessing how our hospitals are tracking against the contracts.

Mr Berry: When?

MRS CARNELL: Hopefully, very shortly. In fact, if the Assembly would like, I am very happy to come back in the next couple of days with a date on that. They are almost finished. That is what I can say on that one.

Mr Speaker, I think that is a really big step in the right direction. I think this is all about politics, not about ensuring that the data that is required here is data that actually achieves something or actually means something. Again, Mr Speaker, the information that is provided in monthly reports tells us how the hospitals, Community Care and the department are tracking against their budgets on a pro-rata basis and on a year-to-date basis. All the other information is there. The outputs-based quarterly statements will be available as well. That is a damn sight more information than was ever available under the previous Government.

Debate (on motion by Ms Tucker) adjourned.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .