Book 8 - Parliament of Victoria

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
1700 COUNCIL Thursday, 2 June 2011
If our universities have, as they should, the opportunity
to increase the number of places under a demand-driven
model, then equally, to meet our professional needs in
this state, we will argue strongly that those
organisations — particularly the two TAFE institutes
that already have the accreditation to deliver those
programs — should have the opportunity both to
continue to participate and to be eligible for expansion
under a demand-driven model.
We also have some concern about the ability under this
legislation for the federal minister to cap certain
professional areas of training. We would want to see
that the states have some input into that decision,
because the professional workforce needs of this state
need to be considered before any such decision is made.
I urge all members to show an interest in this issue
because it is the future of the Victorian economy and
the Victorian people that is at stake.
Department of Premier and Cabinet: catering
Mr LENDERS (Southern Metropolitan) — My
question without notice is to Mr David Davis in his
capacity as the minister representing the Premier. Does
the minister stand by his comments on ABC radio on
the Thursday before the election last year that the
Department of Premier and Cabinet should not cater for
cabinet and cabinet committees because ministers are
paid a lot of money?
Hon. D. M. DAVIS (Minister for Health) — I have
learnt over the years not to be verballed by the Labor
Party, so I need to check precisely what I said and not
accept Mr Lenders’s assertion about what I have said.
Let me be quite clear on that.
Supplementary question
Mr LENDERS (Southern Metropolitan) — My
supplementary question to Mr Davis is: does the
Department of Premier and Cabinet pay for catering of
meals at cabinet and cabinet committee meetings?
Hon. D. M. DAVIS (Minister for Health) — I will
have to take that question on notice and find that out.
As you will understand, President, I do not administer
the details of the Department of Premier and Cabinet,
but I will take on notice the points that have been made.
I am the minister representing the Premier in this
chamber, and I will take that question on notice.
Northern Hospital: performance data
Mrs PETROVICH (Northern Victoria) — My
question on notice is for the Minister for Health.
Mr Lenders — On notice?
Mrs PETROVICH — Without notice, my
apologies. I ask: can the minister inform the house of
any new data that indicates how the Northern Hospital
is performing and how greater transparency is assisting
to improve this?
Hon. D. M. DAVIS (Minister for Health) — I am
pleased to answer the question from Mrs Petrovich
concerning the Northern Hospital, an important hospital
that caters for an increasing population in the northern
region of Melbourne. The house will be aware that
yesterday we released additional data which has not
been available before and which points to the
performance of hospitals around the state. As I said, the
Northern Hospital is an important hospital that caters
for not just the northern region but also the northern
country region from where people come towards the
city to seek emergency department care.
A number of new performance measures for the
Northern Hospital have come forward. In the second
quarter of this financial year the hospital achieved
69 per cent performance against a target of 75 per cent
for category 3 emergency care; 59 per cent against a
target of 80 per cent for transfer in 8 hours; 63 per cent
against a target of 80 per cent for length of stay of less
than 4 hours; 88 per cent against a target of 90 per cent
for patient transfer time within 40 minutes; and 61 per
cent against a target of 80 per cent for category 2
elective surgery patients waiting longer than 90 days.
A number of these new measures are important. The
hospital initiated postponements were 209. This is data
that Daniel Andrews, the former Minister for Health,
would not declare, and it relates directly to his time as
the minister. The hospital early warning systems figure
of 56 hours was also information that Daniel Andrews
would not release. The clear point here is that this is an
important hospital that needs assistance as a result of
the growth in population. As a government we have
made the decision that we will fund the emergency
department building there, which will cost a significant
amount — more than $25 million — which represents a
significant contribution to the community of the
northern suburbs and those who move from the
northern country region into those northern suburbs to
seek emergency department care.
I make the point that the Northern Hospital is doing
well in the circumstances in which it finds itself
However, we have made the capital contribution that
will deliver better services for that hospital.
I make the point that Daniel Andrews, when he was
health minister, refused to release data like hospital