Thursday, 14 November 2019

 Ms CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:00): My question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, I refer to the troubled organisation Community Chef and the recent awarding to them of a substantial government contract. As you are aware, Community Chef has been embroiled in an investigation involving Dandenong council, the Department of Health and Human Services and I Cook Foods, whereby all 96 charges against I Cook Foods were dropped. Minister, isn’t it a fact that the government has bought out or will buy out the troubled Community Chef due to its significant financial debts and to cover up the government’s awarding of a substantial government contract?

 Ms MIKAKOS (Northern Metropolitan—Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services) (12:01): None of that is correct.

 Ms CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:01): Thank you, Minister, I appreciate your answer. So Minister, in saying that, can you confirm that Community Chef is the only bidder for the contract at the new Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital?

Ms Mikakos: On a point of order, President, the supplementary is again unrelated to the substantive question that the member has asked, and I seek your guidance on this one.

The PRESIDENT: I think there is a relationship to the substantive question. Minister, I ask you to answer the question.

 Ms MIKAKOS (Northern Metropolitan—Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services) (12:02): Thank you very much, President. The member should be aware, but clearly is not aware, that tender processes in relation to catering activities for health services are undertaken by those health services. And that would be the case in this instance in terms of Western Health undertaking a tender process for catering activities at the Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital.