Ministerial Responsibility

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (15:15): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Health and Wellbeing on ministerial responsibility.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Premier Steven Marshall made a statement on ministerial responsibility, which in part said, and I quote:

I have told my ministers that they cannot expect to remain in cabinet if they see nothing, hear nothing and question nothing. Ministers have to be inquisitive, inquiring and challenging. Responsibility ends on the minister’s desk, not at the departmental door.

With that in mind, my question to the minister is: when you received the briefing on the RAH security fence, what further questions did you ask or what further advice did you ask for before you personally signed off on that briefing?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:16): I don't recall any additional information being sought in relation to the brief itself. After all, the brief that has been released through FOI has my signature. There would have been ongoing discussions in relation to the privacy screens because, as I said earlier, it was a matter of topical debate.