Page 1472 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 1 May 1990
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DR KINLOCH: Michael, could you please shut up? What are my druthers? What all of our druthers would be is a magnificent, brand new hospital with a world famous medical school - all six years of it - on the Acton Peninsula with everything that such a hospital could possibly have. We do not have a new oilwell in the middle of Lake Burley Griffin. The reality that we came to - and certainly that I came to starting from a great wish for the Royal Canberra Hospital to remain - was to recognise the reality of it. I discovered, realistically, that that would take literally hundreds of millions of dollars that we do not have, and I want to describe the budget strategy process by which we came to that.
First of all, there were statements in the house. I thought Mr Humphries' statements were excellent on that matter - careful, well thought-out, well delivered. We then, in our Alliance Government, had very considerable briefings for the entire 10 of us. Sometimes some came, sometimes some others, and the people who gave us those briefings were put under very close scrutiny. We had a very good debate, argument, discussion.
I, personally, was worried about a number of factors. I was given a personal briefing by two members of the staff and I put them to the test on a number of issues. After a long process I was in no doubt that the budget strategy over the hospital was correct. I commend it to the other side of the house. I believe that what we are doing is in the best financial interests of the people of Canberra.
Mr Moore: That is open government, is it?
DR KINLOCH: Now, tomorrow, when I have a chance to discuss - - -
Mr Jensen: On a point of order, Mr Speaker; I refer to standing order 202. Mr Moore has persistently and wilfully disrupted the proceedings of this house tonight and I suggest it is about time we did something about it.
DR KINLOCH: I conclude, with my comrades on this side of the house, by saying that we have a budget strategy that is carefully thought through. It was not done behind closed doors; it was done with very considerable to-and-fro and discussion and argument. I believe that, when we come to the sensible and sound comradely solutions, the other side of the house should listen to us.
MR KAINE (Treasurer) (9.43), in reply: Sadly, Mr Speaker, I have to conclude that the debate from the opposition has added very little tonight to the question of how to deal with the financial dilemma confronting the ACT.
Mr Berry: We disagree with you, you mean.
MR KAINE: Well, you can disagree, but in an open debate one would expect that people of your calibre, Mr Berry,
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