Questions & Answers Paper No. 158 - Parliament of New South ...

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LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
MONDAY 12 OCTOBER 2009
The proportion may vary over time as taxpayers' land holdings change and the number of taxpayers
changes.
*7429 OPERATOR FOR PHOENIX UNIT—MANLY HOSPITAL—Mr Mike Baird asked the Deputy Premier,
Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, and Minister for Commerce representing the Attorney
General, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Health, Minister for the Central Coast, Vice
President of the Executive Council—
(1) Has the Government issued an Expression of Interest for a new operator of the Phoenix Unit at
Manly Hospital?
(2) Why did the Government offer staff at the Phoenix Unit voluntary redundancies before issuing an
Expression of Interest for a new operator?
(3) How many staff at the Phoenix Unit have accepted voluntary redundancies?
Answer—
I am advised:
(1) An Expression of Interest for a new operator of the Phoenix Unit at Manly Hospital has not been
issued. The tender documentation is nearing completion.
(2) Expressions of Interest for voluntary redundancy were invited across drug and alcohol services and
were not exclusive to the Phoenix Unit at Manly Hospital. This was to assist the Area Health Service
in planning for mapping personnel to positions throughout the course of the realignment of drug and
alcohol services. Even where a staff member expresses interest in voluntary redundancy, there is no
certainty that any offer of voluntary redundancy will be made to them.
(3) No staff member working at the Phoenix Unit has received voluntary redundancy at this time.
*7430 CORPORATE EXPRESS—Mr Mike Baird asked the Minister for Education and Training, and Minister
for Women—
(1) On what evidence does the Minister claim that "the bulk buying approach is saving us about $8.25
million a year" (Ministerial media release 18-03-09)?
(2) Has the Department of Education instructed schools to deal with Corporate Express instead of
finding cheaper products from local suppliers?
(3) Is the Minister confident Corporate Express provides a competitive price on school supplies?
Answer—
(1) From commencement of the Corporate Express supply arrangement in February 2009 spend data for
office supplies shows $11,150,976 was spent, compared to the corresponding period in 2008 of
$14,920,435. This equates to an annual saving of approximately $10 million as a result of the bulk
buying approach for office consumables.
(2) No. I have repeatedly informed schools that they should never knowingly pay more for a product
than they can source themselves. If a school is able to find a cheaper equivalent product from a local
supplier then they are able to buy the cheaper product, provided they contact the Department who
ensures the product is equivalent and the school is receiving value for money. I am advised that in
the overwhelming majority of cases this does not arise with Corporate Express as their products are
cheaper.
(3) Yes.
*7431 PATIENT TRANSFER COSTS—Mr Craig Baumann asked the Deputy Premier, Minister for Climate
Change and the Environment, and Minister for Commerce representing the Attorney General, Minister
for Industrial Relations, Minister for Health, Minister for the Central Coast, Vice President of the
Executive Council—
(1) What was the total cost of transferring patients from Tomaree Community Hospital to other
hospitals, x-ray services or otherwise via the NSW Ambulance Service in:
(a) 2005-06;
(b) 2006-07;
(c) 2007-08;
(d) 2008-09?
(2) What was the total cost of transferring patients from Tomaree Community Hospital to other
hospitals, x-ray services or otherwise via the Health Transport Unit in:
(a) 2006-07;
(b) 2007-08;
(c) 2008-09?
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