Page 2303 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 1 November 1989
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Mr Jensen: Shame!
Mr Collaery: From the Federal Government.
Mr Jensen: The Labor Government.
Mr Collaery: The Federal Labor Government.
Mr Kaine: He's not answering your question.
Mrs Grassby: Well, give him a chance.
MR SPEAKER: Order!
MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, with a bit of order I would be able to answer the question.
Mr Kaine: We don't want a lecture on what the Government gave us - - -
MR BERRY: Well, the buffoons across the way - - -
Mr Kaine: We want to know what you are doing about the $150m you need.
MR BERRY: If the buffoons across the way can just - - -
Mrs Grassby: We'll find it; don't worry.
MR BERRY: I will handle it, Ellnor. The ACT Government inherited a rundown ACT health system from the Commonwealth. That is public knowledge, and it requires an immediate response in order to ensure that a first-class health system is delivered in Canberra. I think the Government's decision, which was announced yesterday, goes a long way to addressing the issue of first-class health delivery to the people of Canberra, both now and well into the future. I have made it clear that we intend to take the health system well into the next century and in a first-class condition.
We know, on the advice that we have now, that it will take five to seven years to rebuild the health system. I have said, as has been quite correctly put, that it will cost $200m to $210m. All of those figures are correct. The opposition knows as well that we have asked the Federal Government for $150m to assist in the restructuring of our hospital system.
Mr Kaine: They said they are going to give it to us.
MR BERRY: The answer to that is that we have not got the $150m and, like any responsible government should do, we will continue to pressure the Federal Government for that money to help us in the rebuilding of our hospital system.
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