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 GP Super Clinics Program, how many clinics (a) have provided to the Commonwealth a commencement of services/formal launch timeline by the date specified in their original funding agreement, (b) have commenced services on or before the date specified in their original commencement of services timeline, and (c) have held a formal launch on or before the date specified in their original formal launch timeline.

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) to (c) Formal launch dates are not specified in the GP Super Clinics Funding Agreement.

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.

Once the construction or refurbishment of a GP Super Clinic site is completed, and the construction is deemed fit for use by an appropriate authority, services may commence.