Page 989 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 28 March 1990
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even talking about a private hospital on the north side. As Mr Berry said, we need a health system run not for the doctors, but for the voters of the ACT who voted for us to do the right thing, not give it away.
It is big, and I repeat, big, that is the way this Government is going. They have got the numbers so they will be able to push it through and the people in the ACT will have to put up with it. But the Assembly is made up of groups other than the Liberals, and they have an opportunity to show their support for a health scheme and a public hospital which is available to all, not just the rich. I hope they will realise that. Unfortunately, half of them will not be back here after the next election, and this is the problem.
Mr Collaery: Speak for yourself.
MRS GRASSBY: I will be here, do not worry, Mr Collaery, but I am not sure you will be. The Liberals, of course, never safeguard the interests of the people of this city. They look after the interests of their friends, the rich. That is what it is all about - the tories. We support a health scheme that is available to all, not just the rich, but to all the voters in Canberra.
The birthing centre was included in Labor's hospital redevelopment statement way back in November. Labor set in train plans for a birthing centre. Our first stage was to investigate the site and talk to the women and the groups that wanted a birthing centre. But, of course, there is no discussion from the people on the other side. It is a closed shop. You cannot even get onto the fifth floor. I have people ringing me who say that they ring Ministers and want to speak to them and they cannot get through. All their minders make sure they do not get through to them. You cannot speak to Ministers. You cannot even get there to talk to them. So how would they know what the people outside want for Canberra?
Labor's strong position was in maintaining obstetric beds in the public sector and not in the private sector. It is important that there be more beds in the public sector than there are in the private sector because there are more people who do not belong to private funds and only have Medicare; therefore they need these beds. A birthing centre should be available and should be in a large hospital - a large public hospital. The Royal Canberra Hospital is the place where this should be. Beds in the private sector are available to women who can afford private insurance. For the less privileged in the community, this needs to be available in the public sector.
Mr Humphries: It is.
MRS GRASSBY: Really? It is not if you look at the amount of beds there are going to be now in the private sector and there are going to be less in the public sector. You want
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