Page 3065 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 11 September 1990
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the issue of the hospitals in the ACT. Of course, that matter has been addressed to some degree by the Chief Minister here today, and I found he confirmed, to my great concern, that there have been and will be fewer beds in the ACT's public hospital system.
In fact, the Government now agrees, on its own figures, that there are fewer beds in the public hospital system than there were approved under the previous Follett Labor Government. Now, the approved beds - - -
Mr Humphries: Not true. "Approved" is different. The question is "approved" or "open", Wayne.
MR BERRY: If Mr Humphries would like to get involved in the debate at some point - and I am sure he will take the opportunity - he will be able to raise that issue. But the fact of the matter is that the Government has said that the available beds now are 100 fewer than they were under the Follett Labor Government. Deny that. That is a fact of life, and that is a sign of the future for our public hospital system because this Government will swing around the emphasis in the delivery of hospital services from the public sector to the private sector.
It has already started the rot with the reduction of beds. It has already demonstrated its mismanagement in the information that I have made public as a result of the Government's committee deliberations on the restructuring program. There has been a budget blow-out. The costs of the redevelopment of our public hospital system will blow out and will exceed $200m. It is very interesting now that taxes will be imposed by this Government - - -
Mr Jensen: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I know Mr Berry started off talking about the debate at the hospital, but I think he has now gone into budgetary matters which I think are more appropriate for reference later on in the day.
Mr Moore: It is the adjournment debate.
Mr Jensen: No, Mr Moore, read your book.
MR BERRY: You are getting a bit touchy. What does it say? Which part?
Mr Jensen: 554, Wayne.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Berry, please do not bring on the budget debate.
MR BERRY: It cannot be. There is no such thing as 554. It only goes to 275. The fact of the matter is that the Government will impose a tax on the people of the ACT to pay for a hospital system which the people of the ACT do not want. They do not want a public hospital system which has fewer public hospital beds, which is more expensive for
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