Page 1069 - Week 04 - Thursday, 29 March 1990
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report and I am sure this will receive approval from both sides of the house.
I very much welcome the fact that the facility now known as the Royal Canberra Hospital will not be closed but will remain as a convalescent facility. There is a lot of nonsense talked in the press - - -
Mr Berry: On a point of order, Mr Speaker; are we talking about the Government's restructuring proposal for the hospital system?
MR SPEAKER: Order! Do not debate the issue. What is your point of order, Mr Berry?
Mr Berry: The point of order is that it is not relevant to what is the debate. We are talking about - - -
Mr Duby: Of course it is. Convalescent services for the aged.
MR SPEAKER: Your objection is overruled. Order!
Mr Berry: Dr Kinloch can probably explain how he did a turnaround.
MR SPEAKER: Order. Thank you for that comment.
DR KINLOCH: Mr Speaker, I am truly trying to be relevant. I am not - - -
MR SPEAKER: I realise that. The objection is overruled.
DR KINLOCH: The Residents Rally, in particular, rejoices that the Acton Peninsula has been saved from any possible depredation by developers and that it will remain as a public health hospital facility. Therefore, there is a possibility in the future - in the twenty-first century - that it will again be a major hospital. At the moment it will be a convalescent facility, a mother and babies facility, a facility for all sorts of other reasons, but it will remain and we are honouring that report.
The Alliance Government repudiates any notion that the facility now known as the Royal Canberra Hospital will in some legalistic way be bulldozed or something of the kind. Absolutely not. It is about to take on this exciting and worthwhile new role as a convalescent hospital and a hospital for mothers and babies. I also welcome the Alliance Government's support for a hospice, which is the second recommendation of our committee's report. On page 59 there is a strong recommendation that a 20-bed hospice unit be developed with the suggestion that the possibility of siting the unit at Calvary Hospital be investigated. I would like to re-emphasise that second part, in particular. I understand no such decisions have yet been made.
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