Page 503 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 20 February 1991
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told that Mr Jensen has indicated that an investigation into these possibilities was conducted at the highest level and that the results of such investigations were entirely negative; they showed that there was no conflict of interest or improper conduct involved. So, my questions are: Did such an investigation take place? Who conducted the investigation? What exactly was investigated? What were the findings of that investigation?
MR KAINE: Mr Stevenson's question raises some very interesting issues. I am always suspicious of broad accusations about impropriety on the part of public servants and I think we need to be very careful about accepting them at face value. If Mr Jensen has told you what you allege he has told you, then I would take his word for it; but since you ask a specific question - - -
Mr Stevenson: It was not told to me, or I would; it was told to residents who told me. I am just checking it, that is all.
MR KAINE: Mr Jensen is an honourable man, he takes his job very seriously and, if he has done an investigation and given that assurance, then I would take it at face value. But, since you have asked me four questions, I will take them on notice and make sure that you get a comprehensive response to them.
Board of Health Vehicles
MR STEFANIAK: My question is directed to Mr Humphries. Is the Minister aware that the ACT Board of Health vehicles are used outside normal working hours within the community nursing service? I am sure there is an excellent reason for that, Mr Humphries.
MR HUMPHRIES: I thank Mr Stefaniak for that question, and there are good reasons for that. Community nursing provides a limited nursing service to patients in their own homes outside normal work hours, which means that vehicles will be seen in suburbs throughout Canberra on weekends and public holidays. For example, palliative care is part of the total community nursing service whereby nurses provide care to terminally ill patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Nurses will visit extremely ill patients at any time over the 24 hours and therefore may be forced to seek the services of, for example, local shopping centres at abnormal times to take meal breaks.
Safety at night for palliative care staff is an issue of concern and necessitates parking in well lit areas. Community nursing could have between six and 10 cars on the road at weekends and public holidays and palliative care could have a minimum of one and a maximum of five on the road at any one time. Obviously, members of the Assembly might receive complaints from time to time about government
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