Tuesday 9 June 2026: Legislative Assembly Question Time
12 questions · 5 Dorothy Dixers removed · 17m
Summary
Opposition leader Basil Zempilas questioned Minister Papalia over show cause notices issued to three prisons; Papalia denied assertions of funding or capability failures without providing detail. Zempilas asked Premier Cook why the Corrective Services Minister had not been sacked; Cook attributed prison pressures to population growth and family and domestic violence increases rather than addressing ministerial performance. Adam Hort raised allegations of reduced sentences due to prison conditions and sexual assaults of female prisoners; Papalia deflected to population growth challenges and noted corrective services does not control who enters the system. Frank Paolino asked the Premier about Mount Hospital; Premier Cook announced the government is securing the hospital's future operations to serve both public and private patients, citing a broader $9.1 billion health budget. Stuart Aubrey asked the Treasurer about economic performance; the Treasurer reported 3.2% growth to the March quarter, 27% growth over five years, and reconfirmed Aaa credit rating from Moody's.
Questions
Asked of the Minister for Corrective Services
Corrective Services—Prisons
Member for Niddrie Basil Zempilas questioned the Minister for Corrective Services about the Inspector of Custodial Services issuing show cause notices for three prisons and comments regarding a system-wide breakdown in the prison estate. The Minister for Corrective Services, Paul Papalia, directly rejected both implications in the question but did not provide detailed explanation of the government's response to the crisis.
Asked of the Minister for Corrective Services
Corrective Services—Prisons
Member Basil Zempilas questioned whether the Minister for Corrective Services retained the confidence of his colleagues. Minister Paul Papalia did not directly address the question of confidence, instead deflecting to explain the unprecedented growth in Western Australia's prison population since COVID, attributing it to increased focus on family and domestic violence laws and a more conservative approach by courts.
Asked of the Minister for Corrective Services
Corrective Services—Prisons
Member Adam Hort raised concerns about reduced sentences due to prison conditions, alleged sexual assaults of female prisoners, and actions by the independent watchdog, questioning whether the system is denying victims justice and endangering the community. Minister Paul Papalia deflected from the specific allegations by attributing prison challenges to unprecedented population growth and arguing that corrective services does not control who enters the prison system, rather than directly addressing the member's concerns.
Asked of the Minister for Corrective Services
Corrective Services—Prisons
Member Adam Hort asked whether Western Australians could expect more cases of criminals being prioritized over victims due to prison system failures. Minister Paul Papalia responded by clarifying that courts and judicial officers—not prison conditions—determine who is released or imprisoned, deflecting from the direct question about systemic failures.
Asked of the Premier
Corrective Services—Prisons
The Opposition questioned the Premier about regulatory action against three Western Australian prisons, calling for the sacking of the Corrective Services Minister. The Premier deflected from the criticism by pointing to population growth and increased offender numbers as factors straining the system, rather than directly addressing the minister's performance.
Asked of the Premier
Corrective Services—Prisons
Member for Niddrie Basil Zempilas challenged the Premier on whether a show cause notice for three prisons indicated ministerial failure in Corrective Services, but the Premier deflected by outlining expansions and investments across the prison system rather than directly addressing the performance concerns raised.
Asked of the Minister for Health
Kalgoorlie Health Campus—Radiology billing
The Minister for Health confirmed that she referred concerns about radiology billing practices at Kalgoorlie Health Campus to the Corruption and Crime Commission after receiving new information from a journalist at The West Australian on 5 June, which she then discussed with the Department of Health's Director General before making the referral decision. The minister provided a direct answer to both parts of the question.
Asked of the Minister for Health
Kalgoorlie Health Campus—Radiology billing
Mettam asked the Minister for Health to make a personal explanation regarding comments made during estimates about hearing billing irregularity allegations for the first time at Kalgoorlie Health Campus. The minister clarified that while various billing allegations had been raised previously, the specific allegation mentioned in estimates was indeed new to her at that time, providing a direct response to the question.
Asked of the Minister for Health
Kalgoorlie Health Campus—Radiology billing
The Opposition member asked the Minister for Health to confirm a January meeting with private radiology providers and whether billing concerns were raised, including allegations of incorrect charges to patients. The Minister confirmed the meeting occurred and that representatives raised issues described as "broader irregularities," but stated she had received consistent advice from the department that there were no irregularities in the billing practices at Kalgoorlie Health Campus.
Asked of the Minister for Health
Kalgoorlie Health Campus—Radiology billing
During question time, Opposition member Libby Mettam challenged the Health Minister about her earlier statement that she had not heard allegations of patients being incorrectly billed for radiology services at Kalgoorlie Health Campus. The Minister deflected from directly addressing the question, instead explaining that she had raised various allegations with departmental representatives who assured her the claims had no substance.
Kalgoorlie Health Campus—Radiology billing
Liberal member Libby Mettam questioned the Minister for Health about whether she had misled Parliament during estimates regarding allegations that patients at Kalgoorlie Health Campus had been billed for radiology services they did not receive, asking specifically if the minister had previously claimed not to have heard these allegations. The minister did not directly address the substance of the question, with a point of order being raised during the exchange.
Kalgoorlie Health Campus—Radiology billing
Ms Mettam asked the Minister for Health what further actions were taken following a January meeting regarding radiology billing at Kalgoorlie Health Campus. The minister's response to this supplementary question is not provided in the available information.