Question Without Notice No. 357 asked in the Legislative Council on 15 August 2017 by Hon Peter Collier
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
PERTH CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL — LEAD CONTAMINATION
357. Hon PETER COLLIER to the minister representing the Minister for Finance:
(1) Can the minister confirm that practical completion of Perth Children's Hospital was accepted on the basis that the issue of lead in the water at the hospital was a minor defect?
(2) If yes to (1), on what basis was the lead issue deemed to be a minor defect?
(3) If no to (1), why was practical completion accepted if the lead in the water was deemed to be more significant than a minor defect?
(4) Were there any other issues relevant to practical completion being accepted that were deemed to be ongoing issues at the time of acceptance of practical completion, that were deemed to be more than a minor defect; and, if so, what were these issues?
Hon STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Department of Finance advises the following.
(1) Yes.
(2) Water quality was deemed to be a minor defect under the Perth Children's Hospital managing contractor contract on the basis that, in the opinion of the state at the time —
(i) due to ongoing elevated lead levels evident in test results, the potable water quality did not meet the requirements of the Australian drinking water guidelines, the prevailing standard under the MC contract; and
(ii) rectification of the defect would not unduly impact on the operation of the hospital.
(3) Not applicable.
(4) No; in accordance with the relevant provisions of the MC contract, all outstanding defects at the time were deemed to be minor defects.