Tuesday, 10 September 2019

 The PRESIDENT (12:52): As far as today’s questions go, I thank Minister Mikakos, who has committed to get further information from the Minister for Mental Health regarding Mr Limbrick’s question.

Ms Mikakos: On a point of order, President, just to correct the record, because Mr Limbrick did assert that he had not heard from my office, the advice that I have had is that my office contacted his electorate office on Friday and advised his staff that this matter had been referred to the Minister for Mental Health.

Mr Limbrick: We contacted you.

Ms Mikakos: But you had that advice on Friday. You did claim that there had been no contact. That is not correct.

The PRESIDENT: I am not too sure if that is a point of order, but I do thank the minister for her commitment to follow up with the mental health minister.

To the Leader of the Government, thank you for committing to get a written response in line with the standing orders for Mr Bourman’s question to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change. I ask the Minister for Health if she could please get written responses as per the standing orders to Ms Crozier’s substantive and supplementary questions for the second question she asked and also to the substantive question for the first question that she asked around, I believe, the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Ms Crozier: On a point of order, President, thank you for reinstating both of the questions I asked for the second question, and the first question I asked in question one, but I would also ask that the minister respond to the issue that I asked in the supplementary regarding that they were forced to work 18 hours due to the inability of the—

The PRESIDENT: I am sorry, I might have got that the wrong way around. The second question, in my recollection—and correct me if I am wrong, Ms Crozier—was around cuts, and the minister responded that there were no cuts. But I am happy—

Ms Crozier: Yes, but she continues to respond that there are no cuts, President, with all due respect. The first question was around the Royal Children’s Hospital, with the Platypus ward—why nurses were working 18 hours—and the second part of that question was in relation to the agency staff not being put in place because of budget cuts. So you are right. The second question I asked was also around the cuts to the primary care partnerships—both first and second—which she did not answer.

The PRESIDENT: I actually have asked the minister, in regard to your second question, both the supplementary and the substantive, if she will give written responses in line with the standing orders. I am happy to check the tape on the supplementary for your first one and get back to you. But I do believe the question was around cuts, and I believe the minister answered that there were no cuts.

Ms Mikakos: On the point of order, President, I clearly responded to this matter. There have been no cuts. In fact there has been a 29.2 per cent funding increase for the Royal Children’s Hospital since we have been in government. So the member can assert whatever she likes. The fact is there has been a 29.2 per cent funding increase and there have been no cuts.

The PRESIDENT: That was my recollection, Minister. I will not be inclined to ask for a written response on that supplementary, but I will give the house the commitment to review it and get back to the house as soon as possible.