Page 1529 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 2 May 1990
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I can assure the Assembly that I am giving this matter my personal attention and want to acknowledge publicly the support provided by the Australian Medical Association, the cooperation of the ophthalmologists and the willing assistance of the interim hospitals board. I also want to thank particularly Dr John Donovan, the past president of the AMA, for his invaluable support in resolving this dispute. Members are all aware of a large number of Medicare patients, particularly elderly people, who are in need of cataract operations but who have not been able to obtain them. It is disgraceful that for so long those people have been unable to have those operations. I hope that now we can quickly move to clear that backlog and provide those people with decent lives.
Health Promotion Fund
MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister for Health, Education and the Arts. Just a moment ago, he announced that legislation would not be prepared for the allocation of funds from the health promotion fund. I will read from the transcript to clarify the issue. On page 858 of Hansard of 27 March 1990, in response to a question from Mrs Grassby, Mr Humphries said:
... once again the Opposition seems to have some trouble understanding the processes of government. The fact is that to establish the procedures whereby grants are made from the health promotion fund on a proper ongoing basis it is necessary for legislation to be passed.
He said just a moment ago, you will recall, that he will not be making any legislation.
MR SPEAKER: Ask the question, please, Mr Berry. Do not debate it.
MR BERRY: I just have to draw attention to these facts. Mr Humphries said that it is necessary for legislation to be passed and then went on to say:
There are considerable demands on our drafting services at the present time as members opposite are reluctant to admit, but this is a fact. As soon as that legislation can be prepared and made available, it will be, and the Opposition will have every chance to discuss it and consider it.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Berry, I think you are out of order. This is not a question.
MR BERRY: Is it true that the Minister has misled the Assembly?
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