Page 4155 - Week 14 - Thursday, 25 October 1990
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he is clumsy in the way he has approached this issue and the way he has approached his portfolio. Mr Speaker, I put the position that there were 112 requirements for overtime shifts - 25 per cent of the total shifts - needed because of staff shortages. Mr Humphries has not - - -
Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. Obviously Mr Berry is not anxious to face the music on this matter.
MR BERRY: I am very keen. That is why I wanted you to move the motion in the first place.
Mr Humphries: He is not anxious to face the music so he seeks to divert attention from what he knows is the subject of this debate. Nobody has alleged that Mr Berry has misled the Assembly in any of the matters that he is currently raising. That is not what has been raised, Mr Berry.
MR SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Kaine: Mr Berry knows exactly what has been raised and he is running for cover.
MR SPEAKER: Order, Chief Minister! The situation is that a motion is before the house that allows Mr Berry to take the approach that he is taking. If Mr Humphries wishes to alter that he can raise an amendment to his motion, which will restrict the debate, after Mr Berry has spoken. Please proceed, Mr Berry.
MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, I see that Mr Humphries has agreed. He now seems to be fumbling with his pen and has agreed that he has mucked up his motion. It is just like everything else that he touches. I said that there were 112 overtime shifts required - 25 per cent of the total shifts. That has not been denied. I therefore take that to be true. Fifty-seven of those shifts were not covered; that is, ambulance crews were short. That has not been denied. I therefore take it that that is true.
At least one station was closed on 32 occasions. I take it, Mr Speaker, that that is true. Staffing levels have been down to as low as 1.5 crews. I recall that Mr Humphries denied that, but I still say that that is the fact because the evidence has not been provided to me that would disprove that. So, on my advice that is fact. On 32 occasions three or fewer ambulances were in service. The minimum requirement in the ACT, before this Government said that it was only an aim, was four ambulances to operate 24 hours a day within the ACT. I take that statement to be fact. On 32 occasions or more, for 10 hours and up to 14 hours there were fewer than three ambulances. There has been no denial that I recall on that matter, so I take that to be fact.
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