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The Hon. JENNIFER GARDINER: My question without notice is directed to the Minister for Health. Is the Minister aware that Gunnedah, Uralla and Glen Innes Severn shire councils invited the Hunter New England Area Health Service to join them in an alliance to submit a joint tender for a $1 million Federal Government Carelink program? Is it correct that after agreeing to a joint tender, the health service then submitted its own tender, which was accepted? What does the Minister say to Uralla mayor's claim that the health service submitted a rival bid with the benefit of in-confidence information provided by those councils? Has this matter been referred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption and/or the Ombudsman? Will the Minister agree to the councils' request for a restart of the tender process? What does the Minister say to the Hunter New England Area Health Service chief executive officer's claim that this was all because of a communications breakdown?
The Hon. JOHN HATZISTERGOS: That is a staggering question, bearing in mind that the submission is for funding of a Commonwealth program, Carelink. I am advised that the process was appropriate and in accordance with Commonwealth requirements. The Hunter New England Area Health Service prepared a submission for a proposal for funding under the program, which was successful, at the behest of the Commonwealth authorities. The consortium of councils stated that they were of the view that they would continue to be provided as an alliance arrangement, and that a joint tender would be submitted. I am advised that, although there were discussions about a joint proposal, there was certainly no agreement.
Both parties submitted separate proposals for funding. Neither the council consortium nor the area health service advised the other of the details or the fact that they were submitting separate proposals. The submission by Hunter New England was judged appropriate by the Commonwealth, through its processes. I am sure that the Hon. Jennifer Gardiner would be supportive of the Commonwealth accepting a tender that the Commonwealth judges as providing the best service for the people of that region, rather than an inferior service based on parochialism. I am sure she would support the decision that the Commonwealth has taken.