Page 2992 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 15 September 2015
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Questions without notice
University of Canberra—public hospital
MR HANSON: My question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, in June 2015 you tabled six reports on the building of the University of Canberra public hospital including a functional brief, the service delivery plan and the service model but no costs. On 4 September 2015 I publicly called on the government to release the full costs of building the new hospital but there has been no response to date from the government. Minister, what is the full cost of building the University of Canberra public hospital?
MR CORBELL: I thank Mr Hanson for his question and I refer him to my earlier answer.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Minister, why is the cost of building light rail publicly declared at $783 million but the cost of building a hospital is hidden?
MR CORBELL: It is not hidden. The simple fact is that, as I have indicated to Mr Hanson and those opposite earlier, we are in the middle of a tender process for the delivery of the new University of Canberra public hospital. In relation to light rail, the figure that the government has released is the estimated capital cost, for the purposes of the business case, to deliver the first stage of capital metro.
But, in relation to the University of Canberra public hospital, it would be unwise, very unwise, to seek to precondition bidders who are currently having their bids assessed in relation to the University of Canberra public hospital. The government will disclose the cost of the project and it will do so once it has determined the outcome through the bidding process which is currently underway.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Wall.
MR WALL: Minister, when will construction of the hospital start and when will the hospital be opened?
MR CORBELL: The full details of the construction time line will be announced once the bidding process is completed and a preferred tender has been selected. But I can indicate to members that we expect construction to commence next year.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Wall.
MR WALL: Minister, are you concerned about comparing the infrastructure costs of new health facilities with the costs of light rail?
MR CORBELL: No, I am not.
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