Andrew Southcott (Boothby, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Primary Healthcare) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Health and Ageing, in writing, on 14 September 2011:

In respect of the Deliverables and Milestone Schedule in Annexure A of the funding agreement template for the GP Super Clinics Program, (a) on how many occasions has an organisation failed to meet a deliverable or milestone by the date specified in its funding agreement, and (b) how many clinics have failed to meet the following milestones as specified in their funding agreements: (i) execution, (ii) tenure, (iii) project commencement, (iv) seeking regulatory approvals, (v) construction tender, (vi) award of tender, (vii) approval to commence construction, (viii) construction commencement, (ix) financial acquittals and report, (x) midpoint of construction, (xi) start up and operational arrangements, (xii) notification of practical completion, and (xiii) report of completion of works.

Nicola Roxon (Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Health and Ageing) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

(a) and (b)The timetable for achieving milestones in the GP Super Clinics Program Funding Agreements is heavily dependent on external factors beyond the control of the funding recipient including the availability of land/suitable premises for the clinic, local council planning and approval processes, availability of construction workforce and materials, and weather conditions. The size and complexity of the construction project can also impact on the anticipated project timeframe

The Department monitors the Funding Agreements for each GP Super Clinic and negotiates variations to milestones in the Funding Agreement, if required, to reflect the impact of these external influences.