Page 2887 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 15 August 1990
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MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Berry, for your observation.
MR HUMPHRIES: The National Capital Planning Authority has become involved recently as a result of its own initiative. It has indicated it wishes to consider the uses to which the Acton Peninsula site might be put. This was not an initiative that came from this Government; it was an initiative that was taken by the NCPA. I believe that it is appropriate to consider what that inquiry on the part of the NCPA reveals. However, I can say that at this stage the Government intends to proceed with its plans until it is obvious that they are no longer appropriate. At this stage it appears to be appropriate to proceed with those plans. This is what we intend to do.
Mr Berry: Which ones?
MR HUMPHRIES: The plans have been well outlined already. I think Mr Berry is under no - - -
Mr Berry: Royal Canberra Hospital site or Woden Valley or Calvary?
MR HUMPHRIES: If I could be allowed to answer the question, Mr Speaker; it is pretty obvious that the plans have been well fleshed out and well placed on the table. The Government's intention at this stage is to place those facilities on the Acton Peninsula site. Somewhere in the meandering question we had from Mr Berry there was some suggestion that the birthing centres and hospices might be on that site. Mr Berry is obviously not very good at reading.
Mr Berry: I did not ask that question.
MR HUMPHRIES: You mentioned them. Mr Berry is not very good at reading because obviously he would realise that those things were never intended to be on the Royal Canberra site. They are appropriately attached to an operating hospital and therefore should not be at the Royal Canberra site.
However, as I have said, the Government will proceed with these plans despite the fact that some uncertainty hangs over the question of whether they would be appropriately located there, given the NCPA's intrusion into this process. We will be awaiting the outcome of the inquiry.
Methadone Program
MRS NOLAN: Again, my question is to Mr Humphries and again it is in his capacity as Minister for Health. What is the Minister doing to increase the availability of methadone treatment in the ACT and so decrease the spread of AIDS in the intravenous drug users community?
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