Page 1559 - Week 05 - Thursday, 11 May 2006
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Roads and so on have been put in place. The earthworks for the infrastructure for the prison site are now clearly visible.
I am not privy to the details of the tender process and whether or not tenderers have been able to deliver the project consistent with the financial envelope that the government has provided. If it is the case that the total scope of the full project cannot be delivered within the $128 million envelope, the project will be adjusted so that it can be delivered within that envelope. The detail will depend on the scope of the overall tender price and what can feasibly be adjusted to ensure the program is delivered on time.
I indicate that the key elements of the prison will continue to be delivered no matter what. They will deliver new remand facilities, new facilities for sentenced prisoners, both male and female, and the range of basic services that are needed to house and service that prison population.
Without being privy to the details of the tender process, I cannot itemise the types of changes to the scope of the project that may result if—and I have to stress “if”—the tenderers indicate that they are unable to deliver the project within the $238 million envelope. The bottom line is that the project will not cost more than the budget provision. That is the requirement the government has put in place, and that will be the way it is delivered.
Calvary Public Hospital
MRS DUNNE: My question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, prior to the 2004 election you promised that you would spend $5.3 million to modernise the intensive care unit at Calvary hospital. This promise was also accompanied by an additional recurrent spending of $1 million in ICU at Calvary, starting next financial year. On 15 November last year you told this Assembly that the election promises that you made in 2004 would be honoured, and you confirmed that earlier this week. Minister, when will the ICU at Calvary hospital be modernised.
MR STANHOPE: I thank Mrs Dunne for the question. As members are quite clearly aware—at least I hope they are—the government is in the process of developing a budget for the next financial year. We have not yet concluded our deliberations on that. The budget will be delivered, however, on 6 June and the decisions that this government takes in relation to expenditure in the next financial year and the outyears will be revealed in the budget on 6 June.
MRS DUNNE: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. Chief Minister, in that case can I take it that that is a commitment for this coming financial year?
MR STANHOPE: The decisions which this government takes in relation to next year’s budget and the outyears will be reflected in the budget, which I will, of course, take great pleasure in delivering on 6 June. I do not at this stage intend to engage in a game of “rule this in” or “rule that out”. I think everybody in this place understands very well the conventions in relation to budget cabinet deliberation around a budget and its delivery. A budget will be delivered by me on 6 June and issues of expenditure decisions will be revealed on that occasion and in that document.
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