Page 3180 - Week 15 - Thursday, 14 December 1989
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Alliance Government
MR BERRY (1.01): In the adjournment debate I would like to raise a few issues which are of concern, I am sure, to the people of Canberra. They relate to the new Government opposite and the way that it performs its government functions.
We have all seen the number crunching which was associated with the formation of this Government and we all know from the polls that many of them will not be here next time. There will be many more Liberal Party people in the Assembly and many more Labor Party people but very few of the people who have swept aside the policies of the parties under which they were elected.
A few very important issues which I should deal with in this short debate, Mr Speaker, relate to some of the policies of the new Government and, in particular, where they impact on health. Some of the lies that have been told, of course, need to be refuted and the record put straight. I think one thing that needs to be put straight is the alliance Government's position in relation to the board which I had announced before the Liberal coalition took over. That board, of course, was to report directly to the Minister, not as has been said in the Liberal-Rally alliance announcement in relation to health, dated 29 November. There the coalition said that it would sweep aside the board and consultative arrangements which I had announced just a few days before.
Of course, the Residents Rally party have always said - they used it in their election program, anyway - that consultation would be a strong part of their role in government. Now they have joined with the Liberal Party it will be the end of them, I suggest. They have joined with the Liberal Party in sweeping aside the consultative bodies which had been announced by the Labor Party in relation to community services and health policy.
Mr Collaery: What are you talking about?
MR BERRY: Well, you have not even been following the program in the parliament.
Mr Collaery: Name one of the committees we have stopped?
MR BERRY: Well, I will tell you the one they have swept aside. It is called the community services and health council.
Mr Collaery: And we stopped that - - -
MR BERRY: Yes, it says here that you have swept it aside; too cumbersome.
Mrs Grassby: That is the thing you put out.
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