The Hon. TREVOR KHAN: My question is directed to the Minister for Health. Would the Minister agree that in the development of any proposal for major capital works associated with a hospital development an essential early step is the formulation of a health services plan? Is the Minister aware that a freedom of information request was placed with the Hunter New England Area Health Service on 22 July 2008 seeking amongst other things the Tamworth health services plan? Is the Minister aware that on 10 September 2008 the Hunter New England Area Health Service in its determination indicated that access to the Tamworth health services plan had been deferred pending its publication? Can the Minister now advise the House whether the Tamworth health services plan has been finalised and, if so, when? If he cannot provide for the release of the Tamworth health services plan immediately, when will it be released?

The Hon. JOHN DELLA BOSCA: The answer to the last part of the member's question is that I will find out when it is expected that the Tamworth health services plan will be released and advise him. The penultimate part of his question asked about the deferral of publication of the health services plan, and I will also ascertain the reasons for that and provide a response to him at the earliest possible opportunity. In relation to the balance of his question, I am not going to play Battleship around the issues and game play around the planning processes of the health services. Yes, it is obvious that major capital works and health infrastructure are planned very responsibly on extensive time lines that go beyond the normal budget four-year forward estimates, particularly in the case of health planning because of the complexity of planning health facilities and the rapid change in community expectations, technology and other demographic factors.

Clearly, I am satisfied in both a general and specific sense with the level of competence and expectation around health planning conducted by the Department of Health in this State. Obviously there are issues around the publication of the health services plan. I will ascertain the general reasons for the deferral of determination of the freedom of information request on 10 September and advise the member in due course.

Questions without notice concluded.