Formal hearings

Dr Kennedy held hearings for the purposes of the Inquiry, as permitted under section 231(1) of the Public Health Act 2016 (the Act).

The purpose of the hearings were to explore in more detail the current state considerations that have been raised through the written submissions received, public stakeholder forums conducted in October and November 2021 and information gathered during the interjurisdictional review.

The hearing schedule is outlined below.

The Inquiry complied with section 231(2) and (3) of the Act:

(2) Hearings must be held in public.

(3) However, the inquirer may direct that a hearing, or any part of a hearing, be held in private if the inquirer is satisfied that it is desirable to do so because of the confidential nature of any evidence or matter or for any other reason.

Two petitions were made for a closed session. The Inquirer determined one petition to meet criteria for a closed hearing. All other hearings were held in public with observers in attendance.

All observers whom registered to attend the hearing were able to do so in line with room capacity guidelines set by the WA Industrial Relations Commission relevant to the hearing room used. 

For transcripts of all public hearings please refer to the Hearing Schedule below.

Hearings took place at:

Western Australian Industrial Relation Commission
Level 18, 111 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000.

Hearing Schedule

Thursday, 10 February

Time Organisation Open to public observers Transcripts
0800-1000 Department of Health Yes Department of Health transcript (PDF 290KB)
1015-1145 Western Australia Country Health Services Yes WACHS transcript (PDF 308KB)

1230-1300

North Metro Heath Services Yes North Metro Health Services transcript (PDF 177KB)
1305-1335 South Metro Health Services Yes South Metro Health Services transcript (PDF 143KB)
1340-1410 East Metro Health Services Yes East Metro Health Services transcript (PDF 153KB)
1415-1445 Child and Adolescent Health Services Yes Child and Adolescent Health Services transcript (PDF 182KB)
1500-1530 Department of Health - Purchasing and System Performance Division (Attended at 0800-1000 alongside Department of Health) Yes No transcript as witness attended at 0800-1000 alongside Department of Health.
1535-1605 Department of Health - Clinical Excellence Division Yes Clinical Excellence Division transcript (PDF 161KB)
1610-1640 Department of Health - Clinical Strategy and Planning Division Yes Clinical Strategy and Planning Division transcript (PDF 149KB)

Friday, 11 February

Time Organisation Open to public observers Transcripts
0800-0900 Neonatal Emergency Transport Service WA Yes Neonatal Emergency Transport Service WA transcript (PDF 224KB)
0915-1015 WACHS Command Centre and Telehealth Yes WACHS Command Centre and Telehealth transcript (PDF 221KB)
1030-1230 Department of Fire and Emergency Services Yes Department of Fire and Emergency Services transcript (PDF 273KB)
1315-1515 Royal Flying Doctors Service – Western Operations Yes Royal Flying Doctors Service – Western Operations transcript (PDF 285KB)
1530-1600 Department of Finance Yes Department of Finance transcript (PDF 166KB)

Monday, 14 February 2022

Time Organisation Open to public observers Transcripts
0800-1000 St John Ambulance WA Yes St John Ambulance WA transcript (PDF 306KB)
1100-1130 Australian Maritime Safety Authority Yes Australian Maritime Safety Authority transcript (PDF 184KB)
1215-1245 Australian Medical Association WA Yes Australian Medical Association WA transcript (PDF 145KB)
1430-1500 Aboriginal Health Council of WA Yes Aboriginal Health Council of WA transcript (PDF 173KB)
1515-1545 Helicopter Logistics No No transcript due to closed session.

Tuesday, 15 February 2022

Time Organisation Open to public observers Transcripts
0830-0900 PHI International Yes PHI International transcript (PDF 175KB)
0915-0945 CareFlight Yes CareFlight transcript (PDF 156KB)
1000-1030 Medical Air Yes Medical Air transcript (PDF 143KB)
1045-1115 Aviator Group Yes Aviator Group transcript (PDF 130KB)
1130-12:00 CHC Helicopters Yes CHC Helicopters transcript (PDF 160KB)
1215-1245 Aspen Medical Yes Aspen Medical transcript (PDF 129KB)

Exemption from attendance granted to:

WA Police, Wilson MedicOne, Department of Health – Public and Aboriginal Health Division, Department of Health – Strategy and Governance Division, Ambulance Employees Association WA and Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (WA)

Last reviewed: 04-04-2022