Page 2309 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 16 June 2009
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a question about a footpath or a football stadium or a road or a hospital is appropriate. If I am asking questions about expenditure of public money, it is reasonable. That is the purpose of this process. This goes to the heart of it: their attitude has been that they have been unwilling.
At the time this report was actually put to bed, when it was actually finally ticked off—as opposed to the last time we looked at the substance, which was on Friday, and at that point 16 per cent of questions on notice had been answered—by the time we actually formally ticked off on it on Monday, I believe it was 35 per cent. Regardless, these are ridiculously low figures. They do not want to answer the questions.
We have the pattern here: no plan for recovery, absolute misuse of process and contempt for these proceedings. There is much, much more to flow out of this report. I commend this lengthy and detailed report to the Assembly.
Mr Smyth: Mr Speaker, on a point of order, given the time: this morning there were a number of wildly intemperate comments made during the debate, particularly by Mr Corbell. Many of them reflected on this place, the decision of this place, individual members or indeed you. I was curious whether you would review the Hansard and direct which of the comments are parliamentary or are not and perhaps whether some members need to make withdrawals for the comments that they have made.
MR SPEAKER: Certainly, Mr Smyth, I will review the Hansard when it becomes available and I will provide a response to the Assembly.
Debate interrupted in accordance with standing order 74 and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour.
Sitting suspended from 12.29 to 2 pm.
Questions without notice
Hospitals—Calvary Public Hospital
MR SESELJA: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, 11 days out from the 2008 election you stated in regard to health policy:
We have put our plans on the table.
In the estimates committee it emerged that you had formed a view in August 2008 that you “would like to own and operate Calvary” and were in discussion on that basis. Minister, why were you dishonest with the community and why didn’t you disclose your plans to purchase Calvary Public Hospital?
MS GALLAGHER: I am happy to answer this question. I think I have answered it previously in estimates. In fact, I do not have the correspondence on me from the chair of the Little Company of Mary.
We had certainly started some very early discussions in August. They continued up until caretaker, at which point they ceased until some time after the election, probably
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