WA Premier Colin Barnett’s suggestion that Healthway could be brought under the control of the Health Department has prompted concerns the health promotion agency could become a “tool” for politicians.
It comes as leaked Healthway board minutes obtained by the ABC reveal the Premier’s office tried unsuccessfully to exert greater influence over the independent agency in late 2013.
Ever since a damning report by the Public Sector Commission revealed Healthway staff and board members misused $220,000 worth of tickets and corporate box packages, Mr Barnett has made it clear the agency would be overhauled.
But his comments yesterday that he planned to bring it “under strict government control,” and that it may no longer have a board and could instead become part of the Health Department have worried the Opposition and the Australian Medical Association (AMA).
AMA state president Michael Gannon said he supported Healthway being restructured to improve governance, but it had to retain its independence from government.
“The Premier has brought up the option of bringing Healthway directly under the Health Department,” he said.
“We would make the very strong argument that this must not be a tool of politicians, that it’s very success has come from it being independent from government.
“It’s so important that the projects that Healthway looks at are judged on their health promotion benefits with no possible consideration of what it might mean for back benchers or for that matter, senior members of government.”
Healthway’s independence at risk: Opposition
Any change to the structure of Healthway will require legislation and the Opposition’s Roger Cook said he too wanted to ensure the independence of the agency remained.
“The Premier’s comments are in direct conflict with the Minister for Health,” he said.
“Last week in Parliament, the Minister for Health gave an assurance that a new Healthway would continue to be an independent board.
“The Premier’s comments have thrown those comments out the window.
“It is clear the Premier was going for a cash grab and that he simply wants to get a hold of that money for his own political purposes.”
Healthway board minutes from December 2013 reveal that the Premier’s then head of media, Dixie Marshall, was pushing for government ministers to have more involvement in announcing Healthway sponsorships.
“The board raised concerns at the prospect of government ministers having a role in Healthway funding announcements,” the minutes said.
“The board agreed it was paramount that Healthway maintain its independence from government.”
Both the AMA and the Opposition seized on the minutes as evidence the Government has been trying to interfere with the working of the independent agency for some time.
Campaign to destabilise Healthway: AMA
Dr Gannon said he was worried there had been a political campaign to destabilise Healthway.
“Certainly there’s been rumours, very strong rumours, that there has been heavy handed political interference in what’s happened to Healthway,” he said.
“The level of the attack on the organisation and the strength of the attack on key members of the organisation has been interpreted by many as an attempt to discredit the organisation.
“A weakened, discredited organisation is easier to take over.”
In a statement, the Premier’s office said Healthway distributed more than $21 million in State Government revenue each year.
“Yes, Dixie Marshall was in touch with David Malone at Heathway to learn more about Healthway’s communications, and subsequently had a meeting with him in late 2013,” it said.
“As you will be aware Dixie’s role as director of government media/strategic communications is to ensure the best communication to taxpayers of how their money is being spent.
“She was seeking to investigate if the Healthway message was being distributed in the most effective way – as per her job description.”