Page 2586 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 15 November 1989
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
The board is not happy with its impending demise. Obviously, there is dissatisfaction all round, not the least within the Assembly nor amongst those with specific interests in the solution of the problems being experienced within the health system. These problems have definitely been exacerbated by Mr Berry's mismanagement of the media.
Mr Berry: I don't own them, Michael.
MR MOORE: No. Of course, some of that blame must also go, although not to the extent that Mr Berry has suggested, to Mr Humphries. Let us therefore criticise the Minister for what we know he has done. Let us say to Mr Berry, "Your handling of public debate about the interim board has not been good enough and we seek an improvement on that". But, at this stage, let us not go leaping to conclusions and criticising the Minister for what we think he might or might not have done.
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister) (4.05): I am pleased to have this opportunity to speak on the matter of public importance for today. I think it is regrettable that the subject matter of the MPI does reflect a certain lack of balance in the Liberal Party's perceptions of the current situation in the hospitals. The fact is that the Government is taking a responsible approach to the management of the hospitals and we are doing so against a background of two firm principles. The first is that we have a commitment to a hospital system of excellence in the ACT; and the second commitment - and it is very important so I wish the Liberal Party would listen - is to the budget and responsible financial management of the hospitals.
MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I think it appropriate for members to give the Chief Minister the courtesy of listening to her speech without continual chatter.
MS FOLLETT: Thank you. It is well known to the Opposition and to all parties in this Assembly that we need to come to terms with the Grants Commission's estimates of the overspending on the hospital system. The ACT does spend far more on hospitals than other States do to achieve the same standard of care. We cannot ignore such a problem, and we certainly do not deny that it exists. But those issues will not be solved overnight. In fact, those problems have been developing over a great many years. I expect that, in resolving those problems, we are again in for a long haul.
I think it is important also that we keep the issue of the ACT hospital system in some kind of perspective. Hospital funding problems are all too common throughout Australia. We are currently looking at ways in which State governments have attempted to come to terms with the issues in their States, because it is a fact that this Government is very clear in its intention to fix a budget for the hospitals which will not require supplementation.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .