Page 4418 - Week 15 - Wednesday, 21 November 1990
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depend on Mr Humphries to help you, because I can tell you that he is young and frivolous and slick of mouth and slick of feet; he does not have to worry about it at all.
We will need more, not fewer, community health centres in this city; yet every day Mr Humphries is closing them down. The range of services that a person could get in this city, this wonderful city that we all love to live in, has been changed day after day either by closing down schools or by closing down hospitals. We are worried not only about the ageing but also about the young people.
Community health centres are important to young families. It is the only way they can be independent and can be well looked after. They virtually keep people out of hospitals; they save the Government money; and what they do best of all is keep people in their communities as community schools did. But they are all just being shut down; we do not need them. This is the way they are supposed to be saving money. Just as they have failed to understand the role of the neighbourhood school system, they have also failed to understand the role of the community health centres.
Mr Duby: What health centres are being closed down, Ellnor?
MRS GRASSBY: Kambah, for one. There are health centres that are being threatened to be closed down.
Mr Collaery: Getting a better service.
MRS GRASSBY: Oh, better service! Closing down schools and a hospital gives you a better service? The provision of services of professionals, such as dietitians, physiotherapists, psychologists and community nurses in a central community location is important to the continuation of the ACT community's good health.
I enjoyed the Pru Goward show. When Dr Tony Clarke was asked why you were closing down Royal Canberra Hospital so quickly, he said, "It had to be done quickly before the politicians changed their minds".
Mr Humphries: Including you.
MRS GRASSBY: No, we would not have changed our mind. We never intended to close it down. I understood that that was what the Residents Rally rode into power on - that they would never close down Royal Canberra Hospital. I can remember them standing out the front there making speeches; oh, no, they were not going to close down Royal Canberra. They made a 90-degree turn. But then, that is usual; they just roll over every time, just like they rolled over for the schools. Never mind, it is more important to stay in government. I understand that you have to hand it to Mr Duby, as Mr Duby was the one who held you all together. He
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