Minda Incorporated

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:22): A supplementary arising out of the original answer—thank you, Mr President—noting that the minister has again refused to back the board. Why hasn't the minister, then, met with David Holst or Dr Susan Neuhaus to discuss these matters?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:23): I am not sure whether the honourable member was listening to question time yesterday when I stated that I had met with Susan Neuhaus and the acting CE of the board. I can only assume that these questions are written for her by someone else who equally doesn't scrutinise Hansard or understand what is going on. I said yesterday that the reforms that Susan Neuhaus as board chair is undertaking is something that I completely support.

It is a very dangerous game that the Labor Party is playing. If they are genuinely concerned for the residents and clients, the volunteers, the workers, the reputation of Minda, they would not raise things in this context. They would support every effort, which is to ensure that quality care is being delivered—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! I cannot hear the minister. Order! Minister.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: —rather than raising these issues in some cheap political pointscoring exercise.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Well, members opposite do not understand governance arrangements, and we see that constantly.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: This comes from the party that was responsible for Oakden, where ministers failed to understand and take their responsibilities seriously. The Marshall Liberal government and cabinet members do—

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: You haven't evidenced it. What have you done?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: —and we are assiduous in undertaking our—I have already outlined it for you, you bozo. I mean, what is wrong with these people? Are they hard of hearing?