Page 4157 - Week 14 - Thursday, 25 October 1990
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Ms Follett: An extension of time, Mr Speaker?
Mr Humphries: No.
MR SPEAKER: Is leave granted?
Mr Humphries: No.
MR SPEAKER: Leave is not granted.
MR BERRY: The gag!
Mr Kaine: Give him a go. He is on the run. Let him keep going. He is hanging himself. The further he goes, the better it gets.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Humphries, are you prepared to withdraw that?
Mr Humphries: Yes, I am, Mr Speaker.
(Extension of time granted)
MR SPEAKER: Please proceed, Mr Berry.
MR BERRY: Thank you, Mr Speaker. This issue is a serious one for the people of the Australian Capital Territory because, since 7 December last year, this Government has done nothing to improve a situation which its former health spokesperson had claimed as a pet subject immediately before the Labor Government was thrown out of office.
The fact of the matter is that questions in relation to the Ambulance Service were raised rightly by Mr Humphries on the basis of information that was brought to his attention. I have no difficulty with that. That is what the Opposition is about - gathering information in relation to Government services which are not up to scratch and drawing it to the attention of the Government.
We moved quickly to address that situation and by the time we were thrown out a report, I was informed, was due to be given to the Government in relation to ambulance services. You cannot keep blaming a government of long ago. You cannot lock yourselves into the time warp forever. The fact of the matter is that you took over government on 7 December. You have had plenty of time to do something about it. The evidence is on the table; it is on the record. You have not been able to produce the goods.
The Minister has to stop deluding himself. The fact of the matter is that they have not produced the goods. They have to admit it. I do not mind cooperating with people who will admit that there are problems, and I will not make a fuss about it if there are problems and if they are fair dinkum about addressing them; but they have to make these admissions. This Minister continues to delude himself and, I suggest, continues to make misleading statements about the true situation of ambulances in the Territory.
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