Page 3650 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 16 October 1990
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The Liberals' plan had no basis in its electoral promises. The Liberal Party then again pretended to be something that it was not. It continued that pretence throughout its period in Opposition, but changed its colours immediately on forming the Government with the members opposite. The Liberals are in good company because the colours of all of the people opposite changed once they took government. The Liberal philosophy then took control of the Government, and that was to destroy, where possible, the delivery of public community services and, where possible, to enhance the control of those services by the private sector.
The Residents Rally's plan is difficult to work out from day to day. What we do know is that they support the winding back of the public hospital system in the ACT, on the evidence which has been presented in this place. The No Self Government Party's plan speaks for itself, I suppose, and requires no further comment. What those people who belong to that party have to remember well into the future is that they will bear the responsibility for the destruction of the public health system as a result of this Government's restructuring plan.
I think it is very important to note that one of the first things that happened as a result of this Government's action was that there were cuts in public sector beds. There were significant impacts on members of the community. I noted with some amusement the statements by the Chief Minister which indicated some concern for the aged. Of course, the aged are hit hardest by these sorts of actions. I think it is the height of hypocrisy for the Chief Minister to stand up and defend the aged while at the same time his Government is making such a savage attack on the public health system.
Another issue which has become topical is staff morale in our hospitals. Today we heard a member of the medical profession argue that the reason that there were bed cuts in the hospital system was that they were unable to recruit staff. Well, I am not surprised, to be frank, because this Government has fostered misleading advertising, false advertising, to try to recruit staff. People who are interested in employment in the ACT, or anywhere else for that matter, will not cop the false advertising that has been embarked upon under this Government's stewardship.
Just as an example of that, this Government told the people of Australia that there was an opportunity for a career in nursing at Royal Canberra Hospital. That was the big fib. It said that if you took on this career at the Royal Canberra Hospital you would be able to walk to the city in five minutes and you would be able to pursue this career near the lake and the university. Under the normal operations of Royal Canberra Hospital I must say that it would be a very nice place to pursue a career. But what the Government did not tell the people it was trying to recruit to the service was that the hospital was going to close in 1991, that there would be no job for them and they would have to go somewhere else.
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