Page 3026 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 5 December 1989
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MR BERRY: Finally, substantially expanded funding has been allocated for the much-needed replacement and upgrading of major plant and equipment items at hospitals. This increase addresses the inadequacy of expenditure in this area in the past and will raise the standard of equipment available for patient care. As most will agree, the Government inherited a public hospital system in a poor state of repair. The Government has taken direct action to address this problem and to ensure significant improvements in Canberra's health services.
Mr Humphries: What is left of them.
MR BERRY: Talking the health system down again, Mr Humphries? We are getting used to it.
In the short term some of the expenditures under the capital works program will assist in upgrading the state of the public hospital system. They include - listen to this - asbestos removal at Royal Canberra Hospital; minor new works necessary to maintain the many important community facilities in different parts of Canberra; $4.4m on a new nurse education building at the Canberra College of Advanced Education; upgrading fire penetration at the Royal Canberra Hospital; and sanitising equipment at the Woden Valley Hospital. Other expenditures under the capital works program include the refurbishment of the detoxification centre at Campbell and modifications to the Belconnen Remand Centre.
I think I have also referred, Mr Speaker, to the loss of the X-rated video tax, which will impact on very important issues of the Government's budget, and that is why we raised it with you.
Over the past years, problems have been identified in the ACT's hospital system. These problems relate to the run-down condition of the buildings, to staffing and to internal morale problems. This led to a lack of confidence in the system. May I say at this stage that Mr Humphries and the Liberal Party did their best to talk down the hospital system, not only in the last six months but also in the lead-up to the budget, for selfish political gain, and I will explain a little more - - -
Mr Humphries: Clyde Holding talked it down, too.
MR BERRY: Keep your ears open, and I will explain a little more about what we have done for our health system while you have been out sniping at it and trying to sabotage it for your own cheap advantage.
Over the past few years problems have been identified in the ACT's hospital system. These problems relate, as I have said, to the run-down condition of the buildings. But, since gaining government, Mr Speaker, Labor has worked to address all of these problems. We have instituted
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