COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTRE
603. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Health:
I
have a supplementary question. Why is it that the Minister for Transport can
secure funding for Metronet projects —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER: Order! Quiet,
please. Some of you have failed a really simple comprehension test.
Mr S.A. Millman: It's
not very fair to say that to the member for Vasse.
The SPEAKER: I am saying it
to you, member for Mount Lawley. You will not get to remain in this chamber if
you interject while I am speaking.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER: Members! The
whole point of question time is for us to at least be able to hear the
questions. I would like to hear the question from the member for Vasse.
Ms L. METTAM: Will the
government provide the $375 million in the midyear review?
Ms S. Winton interjected.
The SPEAKER: Order, please!
Ms S. Winton interjected.
The SPEAKER: Now!
The question is arguably out of
order because it is not for the Minister for Health to answer budget questions,
but the Minister for Health is welcome to give a response, given that the
question has been asked.
Ms A.
SANDERSON replied:
The
first question should be directed to the federal government and the second
question should be directed to the Treasurer. This government has a responsible
budgeting process, and that is one budget. The midyear review is not a second
budget, as the opposition treated it when it was in government. That is how the
opposition treated it under its government. We have one budget process, and
that is the one that occurs in May. Both of the member's questions were
directed to the wrong people. As I said, the WA government supports and has
supported the WA comprehensive cancer centre, and we are going through the
business case. That is the sensible, reasonable and responsible process —
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER: Order, please.
Ms A. SANDERSON: Every health
project, whether it is an election commitment or not, has a —
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER: Member for
Vasse, I tried to offer you some protection when you asked your questions. It
is really difficult to do if you are going to continuously and repeatedly —
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER: —
interject during the answer. The one thing that no-one does is speak while the
Speaker is speaking. If they do, including you, you will just be sent out.
Ms A. SANDERSON: Every single
project goes through a business case process, whether it is an election
commitment or not—every part of government, unlike under the member's
government. Every single project has to go through that process and then it
goes through a business process, it goes through an Expenditure Review
Committee process and then it goes through the budget process. That is the good
process of government.
We have indicated our support. We
put money in the last budget for the business case, which is the appropriate
process. If the member is concerned about the federal budget, she should
contact the federal government.