Page 2646 - Week 12 - Thursday, 16 November 1989
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received from the community have not yet been put to the Government on the further use of those surplus schools. As I say, I have not yet got a report from the Interim Territory Planning Authority on the consultation process that has taken place, so I do not have anything that I can refer to you at the moment. But it is my understanding that that committee can refer things to itself and take its own references. I think I would leave it at that.
Royal Canberra Hospital
MR STEFANIAK: My question is directed to the Minister for Community Services and Health. I refer to the removal of asbestos from Royal Canberra Hospital. Is there any intention of delaying the removal of asbestos from Royal Canberra Hospital in order to keep wards closed longer, thereby reducing hospital costs? What effect will such delays have on the delivery of patient services? Can the Minister assure the house that the removal of asbestos from Royal Canberra will not be slowed down?
MR BERRY: The issue of asbestos removal from Royal Canberra Hospital is an important issue for the Government and, of course, it has been budgeted for in the budget. The arrangements for the removal of asbestos, I expect, would seek to ensure that adequate patient services continue to be provided at the Royal Canberra Hospital while the asbestos removal proceeds. I do not have the details of a final plan in front of me about the removal project, but I have no difficulty in briefing Mr Stefaniak on the plan for the removal project, if that is really what he is after. There is certainly no reason why the asbestos removal project would not go ahead as planned by the Government in its budget.
Hospitals
MR KAINE: Since the Minister for Community Services and Health does not seem to be able to tell me where $210m is going to come from to restructure his hospitals, the decision on which has been taken and announced, perhaps the Chief Minister and Treasurer can give me a better answer. Chief Minister, as I said, there has been a public statement by the Government that the hospitals will be restructured at a cost of $200m to $210m. I think, after your discussions with the Prime Minister, we can take it as read that you are not going to get the $150m from the Commonwealth Government that you think is necessary, or partly necessary, for this. Given those two facts, and if we assume a seven-year spread that the Minister talks about - that is $30m a year that is not currently provided for in any of the next two years' forward estimates - could you tell us what new and innovative tax measures you are going to take to raise the $30m a year now required to
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