Mr BELL - 1995-10-17
I refer to the minister's reply to the previous question about the health centre at Wadeye. I have been waiting for the member for Victoria River to ask this question, but he has not.
Will the minister confirm that, with the exception of the Department of Health Services, every funding body which dealt with the council at Wadeye during the period when it had accounting problems - problems which the minister knows exist no longer because generally they have been sorted out - agreed to provide the council with funds to allow it to continue its operations? Will he confirm that the amount of money which was provided to the health service was not based at any time on any assessment of the overall health needs of the community? Will he confirm that, in the first quarter of this financial year, it did not overspend but, in fact, had $109 remaining? Will he confirm that there is no money left available to it to pay the wages for the first 2 paydays of this quarter unless it obtains the money from other sources within the council - which would place it in trouble with other funding bodies? Will he confirm that his department has refused to allow the health centre to extend its credit for pharmaceuticals? Will he confirm that he has the ability to allow an extension of credit to cover the requirement for pharmaceuticals until the books, which are currently with the auditor, are clarified by the auditor? Finally, why is the community being punished for the failure of the auditor to audit the books in time?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, it is very cute of the Leader of the Opposition to blame the auditor for the demise of the health centre, but let me bring him back ...
Mr Ede: It is not the fault of the clients.
Mr FINCH: You are blaming them.
Mr Ede: It is not the fault of the clients of the council.
Mr FINCH: We will establish whether you have any justification for hanging the responsibility in the way that you have. My briefings reflect a long history of non-acquittal of funding. The acquittal of public funds is not a very complex matter at all.
Mr Ede interjecting.
Mr FINCH: I remind you briefly that there has been an increase in the funds provided from the Northern Territory taxpayer to almost $1m per year. In relation to pharmaceuticals, there was an agreement for $17 000-worth of credit, to almost $30 000. That was overspent by in the order of $13 000 ...
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr FINCH: Hang on!
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Mr Bailey: ... same level of accountability that you use in relation to yourself.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr FINCH: Do not be rude! I was not sure who is the hit man this week.
It underspent on staff. It had 4 fewer health workers than it was funded for.
This cannot be expressed in any other context than as overspending. The health centre would not be out of money, nor would it be waiting for funds if it could acquit what it has spent. I do not know what it has done with its money. It has overspent on pharmaceuticals. For the member to come in here and continue the political intervention of a medico is really off.
Mr Ede: There is an emergency situation there.
Mr FINCH: You will hear plenty more about this. In this case, you are riding the wrong horse.
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Will the minister confirm that, with the exception of the Department of Health Services, every funding body which dealt with the council at Wadeye during the period when it had accounting problems - problems which the minister knows exist no longer because generally they have been sorted out - agreed to provide the council with funds to allow it to continue its operations? Will he confirm that the amount of money which was provided to the health service was not based at any time on any assessment of the overall health needs of the community? Will he confirm that, in the first quarter of this financial year, it did not overspend but, in fact, had $109 remaining? Will he confirm that there is no money left available to it to pay the wages for the first 2 paydays of this quarter unless it obtains the money from other sources within the council - which would place it in trouble with other funding bodies? Will he confirm that his department has refused to allow the health centre to extend its credit for pharmaceuticals? Will he confirm that he has the ability to allow an extension of credit to cover the requirement for pharmaceuticals until the books, which are currently with the auditor, are clarified by the auditor? Finally, why is the community being punished for the failure of the auditor to audit the books in time?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, it is very cute of the Leader of the Opposition to blame the auditor for the demise of the health centre, but let me bring him back ...
Mr Ede: It is not the fault of the clients.
Mr FINCH: You are blaming them.
Mr Ede: It is not the fault of the clients of the council.
Mr FINCH: We will establish whether you have any justification for hanging the responsibility in the way that you have. My briefings reflect a long history of non-acquittal of funding. The acquittal of public funds is not a very complex matter at all.
Mr Ede interjecting.
Mr FINCH: I remind you briefly that there has been an increase in the funds provided from the Northern Territory taxpayer to almost $1m per year. In relation to pharmaceuticals, there was an agreement for $17 000-worth of credit, to almost $30 000. That was overspent by in the order of $13 000 ...
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr FINCH: Hang on!
Page 890
Mr Bailey: ... same level of accountability that you use in relation to yourself.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr FINCH: Do not be rude! I was not sure who is the hit man this week.
It underspent on staff. It had 4 fewer health workers than it was funded for.
This cannot be expressed in any other context than as overspending. The health centre would not be out of money, nor would it be waiting for funds if it could acquit what it has spent. I do not know what it has done with its money. It has overspent on pharmaceuticals. For the member to come in here and continue the political intervention of a medico is really off.
Mr Ede: There is an emergency situation there.
Mr FINCH: You will hear plenty more about this. In this case, you are riding the wrong horse.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016