Page 1539 - Week 04 - Thursday, 25 March 2010
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Governments, under a whole range of scenarios, have confidential commercial discussions with other parties in terms of furthering a decision or an outcome. That is what we are trying to do. Everybody knows the parameters that we are discussing, but it would certainly assist the discussions if there was some level of confidentiality to the negotiations. I give the Assembly my commitment that, at the earliest opportunity, if this proposal is to proceed and we have further detail that is of interest to the public—and we accept the huge public interest in this discussion—I will provide it to the Assembly. But I cannot sit here and enter into each little bit of negotiating parameters in response to questions because it will damage negotiations if they are to proceed, and at this point we do not even know if they are.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hargreaves?
MR HARGREAVES: Given that all I have heard of the Health portfolio in recent times has been about Calvary and the relationships, particularly in this question, between Calvary—
Mr Smyth: Preamble, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Hargreaves.
MR HARGREAVES: Could the minister please indicate if there is anything else going on in the Health portfolio that the community might like to know about—
Mr Hanson: It’s out of order.
MR HARGREAVES: Sit down for a second, would you! In particular, in relation to any relationship between it and another organisation.
Mrs Dunne: Mr Speaker, that is such a fishing exercise. The first question was directly related to a particular part of the Health portfolio, and this is clearly out of order.
Mr Hargreaves: On the point of order, Mr Speaker, the original question was around the arrangements of the contractual partnerships between Calvary and the government. I would be interested to know whether there are any other relationships and how those things are within the Health portfolio.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Hargreaves, the question is too broad; it is out of order.
MR SMYTH: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Treasurer, did Treasury or Health prepare the options that you have just outlined and does Treasury have a preferred option of any of them?
MS GALLAGHER: Treasury and Health were both involved in discussions around the future ownership arrangements of Calvary Public Hospital. As the key agencies involved, that should be no surprise to members of the opposition. However, in terms
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