Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to add to an answer here. The honourable acting Leader of the Opposition asked me a question about the Haymarket Foundation, and I have requested some further information, and it has been provided to me. The Haymarket Foundation's representatives met with my office in 2015 to request ongoing funding, which—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Sorry to interrupt, Prime Minister. It is normal to add to an answer at the conclusion of question time. If the Prime Minister is seeking to conclude—

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper. Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying a moment ago—

Honourable members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Members on both sides will cease interjecting.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

the representatives of the Haymarket Foundation, which ran a clinic, met with my office in Sydney in 2015 to request ongoing funding, which had been ceased consequent on the Williams High Court case and the consequent 'Strengthening the constitutional basis for Commonwealth spending' provisions of the 2014 MYEFO. I made representations to the health minister, who provided transitional funding through to April 2016, which had been requested. It was to allow the foundation to move to a more sustainable model of operations and find alternative funding arrangements.

The health minister's office and my own sought to find alternative funding opportunities from the Primary Health Networks, state local health districts, local government and private operators, notably St Vincent's Health Network. The initial conversations with the St Vincent's Health Network in 2015 were abandoned and not pursued by the foundation, I am instructed, despite the encouragement of the electorate office and the health minister's office. As far as can be determined, St Vincent's Health Network, while initially interested in an arrangement, were not amenable when discussions occurred again between the Haymarket Foundation and the St Vincent's Health Network in April 2016. So additional funding to give them a year to transition was sought and was provided, but a transition to other sources of funds, whether from the state government or from other sources, was unable to be obtained.