Legislative Council

9 June 2017 46

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ON NOTICE

Edition No. 42

As at 9 June 2017

(Notice received 27 May 2015)

571[(] MS WOOLDRIDGE — To ask the Minister for Families and Children (for the Minister for Health): In relation to the one-off payment to every Victorian Health Service to cover the additional cost of the 2015 Easter Sunday Public Holiday, how much funding did each Health Service receive to cover this additional cost.

572b MS WOOLDRIDGE — To ask the Minister for Families and Children (for the Minister for Health): What is the Department of Health and Human Services estimation of the cost of the new AFL Grand final eve public holiday for Victorian Health Services.

(Notice received 4 August 2015)

868[(] MS WOOLDRIDGE — To ask the Minister for Families and Children (representing the Minister for Ambulance Services): In relation to Ambulance Victoria:

(1) What was the cost incurred due to the 5 April 2015 Easter Sunday Public Holiday.

(4) What is the cost to be incurred for the 2015 Grand Final Eve Public Holiday.

872c MS WOOLDRIDGE — To ask the Minister for Families and Children (representing the Minister for Health as the lead Minister for Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)): In relation to the DHHS:

(1) What was the cost incurred due to the 5 April 2015 Easter Sunday Public Holiday.

(4) What is the cost to be incurred for the 2015 Grand Final Eve Public Holiday.

(Notice received 8 March 2016)

4984 MR DALLA-RIVA — To ask the Special Minister of State (for the Minister for Sport): As at 29 February 2016 —

(1) How many ministerial staff based in the Ministers Office are employed or engaged in communications, including public, corporate and media relations;

(2) What is the salary band for each of these officers; and

(3) What is the job title.

(Notice received 3 May 2016)

5357 MS BATH — To ask the Minister for Agriculture: In relation to the 2015-16 Victorian Budget:

(1) Does the $5 million allocation for ‘Phasing Out Puppy Farms’ supersede the $6 million additional funding agreement which the former Government negotiated with the RSPCA in October 2014.

(2) Does this four year $5 million allocation include the historic $1 million of base funding which the RSPCA has been receiving annually from the Victorian Government.

(3) What are the annual Government funding allocation, actual or forecast, for the RSPCA for —

(a) 2014-15;

(b) 2015-16;

(d) 2017-18; and

(e) 2018-19.

(Notice received 25 October 2016)

7657e MR RICH-PHILLIPS — To ask the Special Minister of State (for the Minister for Finance): In relation to a claim from the Minister’s Office on 22 May 2015 for a cake totalling $38.00 —

(a) what was the purpose of this expenditure; and

(b) why was public money spent on a cake.

(Notice received 8 November 2016)

7699h MS PENNICUIK — To ask the Minister for Corrections (for the Minister for Police): How many firearms were registered in Victoria in each licensing category in 2014 and 2015.

7700h MS PENNICUIK — To ask the Minister for Corrections (for the Minister for Police): How many individuals were licensed to possess one or more firearms in Victoria in each licensing category in 2014 and 2015.

7701h MS PENNICUIK — To ask the Minister for Corrections (for the Minister for Police): How many firearms were registered in Victoria in each licensing category in 1996 and 1997.

7702h MS PENNICUIK — To ask the Minister for Corrections (for the Minister for Police): How many individuals were licensed to possess one or more firearms in Victoria in each licensing category in 1996 and 1997.

7707[(] MS WOOLDRIDGE — To ask the Minister for Families and Children (for the Minister for Health): The department rates health services quarterly, using a performance assessment score (PAS) —

(1) In Quarter 4 of 2015-16, how many health services were assessed to have achieved the following scores:

(a) standard monitoring (PAS >=70);

(b) performance watch (PAS 50–69);

(2) which health services were rated for “intensive monitoring”.

7712 MS CROZIER — To ask the Minister for Families and Children: In relation to Child Protection, children in residential care attending school —

(1) on 1 July 2016 how many children in residential care attended school;

(2) on 1 August 2016 how many children in residential care attended school;

(3) on 1 September 2016 how many children in residential care attended school;

(4) on 2 October 2016 how many children in residential care attended school; and

(5) on 2 November 2016 how many children in residential care attended school.

(Notice received 6 December 2016)

9415 MS WOOLDRIDGE — To ask the Minister for Families and Children (for the Minister for Health): Regarding the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS) for financial year 2015–16 —

(1) how much total funding was spent reimbursing eligible Victorians accessing the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme;

(2) how many claims were made by eligible Victorians accessing the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme;

(3) what proportion of claims made were approved; and

(4) how many unique individuals accessed the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme.

9416 MS WOOLDRIDGE — To ask the Minister for Families and Children (for the Minister for Health): Regarding the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS), what is the total budget for the VPTAS scheme in 2016–17.

9417 MS WOOLDRIDGE — To ask the Minister for Families and Children (for the Minister for Health): Regarding claims made by patients accessing the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS) for financial year 2015–16 —

(1) how many VPTAS claims were made for private vehicle costs;

(2) how much VPTAS funding was spent reimbursing trips in private vehicles; and

(3) what was the total private vehicle distance travelled that was reimbursed in kilometres.

9418 MS WOOLDRIDGE — To ask the Minister for Families and Children (for the Minister for Health): Regarding accommodation claims made by patients accessing the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS) for financial year 2015–16 —

(1) how many VPTAS claims were made for commercial accommodation;

(2) what was the total number of nights claimed; and

(3) how much VPTAS funding was spent reimbursing for commercial accommodation.

9419 MS WOOLDRIDGE — To ask the Minister for Families and Children (for the Minister for Health): Regarding claims made by patients accessing the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme for financial year 2015–16 —

(1) how many VPTAS claims were made for public transport fare reimbursement; and

(2) how much VPTAS funding was spent reimbursing trips on public transport.

9420 MS WOOLDRIDGE — To ask the Minister for Families and Children (for the Minister for Health): Regarding the modes of transport used by patients accessing the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS) for financial year 2015–16 —

(1) how many VPTAS claims were made for trips taken by air travel; and

(2) how much VPTAS funding was spent reimbursing trips taken by air travel.

9421 MS WOOLDRIDGE — To ask the Minister for Families and Children (for the Minister for Health): Regarding the modes of transport used by patients accessing the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS) for financial year 2015–16 —

(1) how many VPTAS claims were made for trips taken by taxi/hire car; and

(2) how much VPTAS funding was spent reimbursing trips taken by taxi/hire car.

9422 MS WOOLDRIDGE — To ask the Minister for Families and Children (for the Minister for Health): Regarding appeals to the Victorian Ombudsman of patients accessing the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS) for financial year 2015–16 —

(1) how many complaints were lodged with the Victorian Ombudsman in relation to the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme;

(2) how many of these complaints were resolved in favour of the VPTAS eligible Victorian; and

(3) how many of the complaints were resolved in favour of VPTAS.

9725[(] MR O’DONOHUE — To ask the Minister for Training and Skills (for the Minister for Police): How many female prisoners were held in police cells at 7am on the following dates —

(a) 3 October 2016;

(b) 10 October 2016;

(d) 24 October 2016; and

(e) 31 October 2016.

9726f MR O’DONOHUE — To ask the Minister for Training and Skills (for the Minister for Police): How many male prisoners were held in police cells at 7am on the following dates —

(a) 3 October 2016;

(b) 10 October 2016;

(d) 24 October 2016; and

(e) 31 October 2016.

9727f MR O’DONOHUE — To ask the Minister for Training and Skills (for the Minister for Police): How many female prisoners were held in police cells at 7am on the following dates —

(a) 7 November 2016;

(b) 14November 2016;

(d) 28 November 2016.

9728f MR O’DONOHUE — To ask the Minister for Training and Skills (for the Minister for Police): How many male prisoners were held in police cells at 7am on the following dates —

(a) 7 November 2016;

(b) 14November 2016;

(d) 28 November 2016.

(Notice received 7 December 2016)

10183[(]MS WOOLDRIDGE — To ask the Minister for Families and Children (for the Minister for Health): Regarding the use of Code Brown, the State Health Emergency Response Plan (SHERP) states that when hospitals and health services respond to an external emergency, they will activate their Code Brown Plan —

(1) how many hospitals activated their Code Brown Plan on 21 November 2016;

(2) how many hospitals did not activate their Code Brown Plan on 21 November 2016;

(3) for those hospitals that did not activate a Code Brown Plan what explanation has been offered to the Department, explaining why the Code was not called;

(4) does every hospital have a Code Brown Plan as required by SHERP; and

(5) when was the Department last assured of each hospital’s compliance with SHERP.

10185[(]MS WOOLDRIDGE — To ask the Minister for Families and Children (for the Minister for Ambulance Services): Regarding Ambulance Victoria’s performance on 21 November 2016 —

(1) what was the average Ambulance Victoria response time for a Code 1 call;

(2) how many patients classified as Code 1 were not attended to by an ambulance;

(3) how many patients that were not attended by an ambulance were managed over the phone; and

(4) what explanation has been offered for why inconsistent information was given to callers to Ambulance Victoria with some patients being given no information on likely arrival times and others being instructed to make their own way to hospital.

10186[(]MS WOOLDRIDGE — To ask the Minister for Families and Children (for the Minister for Health): Regarding the thunderstorm asthma event across Victoria on 21 November 2016 —

(1) why were hospitals unable to restock Ventolin supplies on 21 November 2016; and

(2) do hospitals have the capacity to restock emergency supplies in real time.

10187[(]MS WOOLDRIDGE — To ask the Minister for Families and Children (for the Minister for Health): Regarding the thunderstorm asthma event across Victoria on 21 November 2016 —

(1) were all non-emergency patient transport and first aid agencies under SHERP fully utilised on 21 November; and

(2) which non-emergency patient transport and first aid agencies under SHERP were called for additional shifts on 21 November 2016.

10188k MS WOOLDRIDGE — To ask the Minister for Families and Children (for the Minister for Health): Regarding communications during the thunderstorm asthma event across Victoria on 21 November 2016, the State Emergency Warning System is designed to alert the public via a media announcement that an official emergency announcement is about to be made concerning an actual or potential emergency which has the potential to affect the public —

(1) why wasn’t there a State Emergency Warning at any stage on 21 November 2016;

(2) which agency was responsible for determining if a warning should be issued and subsequently issuing a State Emergency Warning on the 21 November 2016;

(3) advice via a tweet from Ambulance Victoria at 10.08pm on 21 November 2016 said that “high demand for ambulance breathing issues due to weather. Only call 000 in an emergency and consider other options for minor complaints”, if demand for ambulances peaked at 7.30pm why was this advice tweeted 2 and a half hours later; and

(4) does a tweet constitute a State Emergency Warning.

10189k MS WOOLDRIDGE — To ask the Minister for Families and Children (for the Minister for Ambulance Services): Regarding communications during the thunderstorm asthma event across Victoria on 21 November 2016 —

(1) which media outlets did Ambulance Victoria contact to inform them about the asthma event and the increased demand on Ambulance Victoria; and

(2) at what times did Ambulance Victoria contact these media outlets.

10190k MS WOOLDRIDGE — To ask the Minister for Families and Children (for the Minister for Health): Regarding Ambulance Victoria’s attendance at emergencies on 21 November 2016, were there any other deaths on the 21 November 2016 between 6pm and 11pm, not related to asthma, which occurred between 000 being called and an ambulance arriving.

10191k MS WOOLDRIDGE — To ask the Minister for Families and Children (for the Minister for Ambulance Services): Regarding the thunderstorm asthma event across Victoria on 21 November 2016 —

(1) which of the Minister’s advisors was first advised by Ambulance Victoria of the unfolding thunderstorm asthma event;

(2) at what time was that ministerial advisor advised by Ambulance Victoria of the unfolding thunderstorm asthma event;

(3) at what time was the Minister first informed of the thunderstorm asthma event; and

(4) who first informed the Minister of the thunderstorm asthma event.

(Notice received 7 February 2017)

10481 MS BATH — To ask the Minister for Agriculture: In relation to the Food Source Victoria Grants —

(1) How many expressions of interest were received for the:

(a) planning grants;

(b) growth grants; and

10482 MS BATH — To ask the Minister for Agriculture: In relation to the Food Source Victoria Grants —