Page 2812 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 14 August 1990
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mount the program, I understand, and the University of Canberra seems to have accepted, at least informally at this stage, that the Australian National University should be the focus for that school. With the development of the principal hospital in Canberra, now is the best time to be moving ahead with the clinical school proposal. This would enable the proper planning of physical requirements and their incorporation into the construction program at Woden. Capital costs would be reduced as a result and the outcome would be better.
I understand that my colleague Mr Humphries will be making some comments in relation to the way that such a project could be funded. However, as I have indicated, the major issue yet to be addressed is the cost of the proposal. There has been a suggestion that this could be something in the order of $10m or more per year. In answer to the questions that Mr Berry raised, the service has tentatively arranged for Professor Nick Saunders, head of the Department of Medicine at John Hunter Hospital, to assist in developing possible budget options. He is well qualified to do this, having been intimately involved in the development of the new John Hunter Hospital, which is the major teaching unit for the University of Newcastle. It is expected that this work will be completed by early September and, if it was the desire of the Minister to proceed, I understand a submission would be prepared for Cabinet by the end of that month.
In closing, this matter deserves very serious consideration and, if at all possible, it should gain bipartisan support from all members of the ACT Legislative Assembly and the community. Aside from the fact that it offers some real benefits to the quality of health services in Canberra in the short and long term, it is certainly inevitable over the next five to seven years and it is far preferable to plan for it now rather than try to accommodate it later. I commend the report to the members and, if the members of the Opposition have nothing to say, I am sure my colleague Mr Humphries will sum up the debate on this issue.
MR HUMPHRIES (Minister for Health, Education and the Arts) (9.13), in reply: I am rising to close this debate. As my colleague Mr Jensen noted, it appears that the Opposition is pretty well bereft of ideas on this matter, except for only one of its members. I note that this Government - - -
Ms Follett: He is the health spokesman, in fact.
MR HUMPHRIES: Well, this Government has many people, all of whom contribute - - -
Ms Follett: It is not a debating club, Gary.
MR HUMPHRIES: It is a debate, Ms Follett.
Ms Follett: It is a legislative assembly; it legislates.
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