Page 2430 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 6 August 1991
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Executive of the Southern Sydney Area Health Service. Other members were Mr John Turner, Acting Chief Executive of the Board of Health; Mr Graham Rogers, a finance expert from the University of Canberra; and Mr Humphry McGrath, a health expert from South Australia.
The feasibility study terms of reference required that a range of best service/least cost options for possible hospital facilities on the Acton site be examined. So, it was no small task. It was never a small task. And, of course, they were given a tight timeframe in which to consider these issues. Mr Speaker, I have now received the feasibility report and it is currently being considered by the Government.
Mr Kaine: I wish we had. Can we have a copy of it, Wayne?
MR BERRY: If you had been in government you could have, but you are not.
Mr Kaine: We will come up on the fifth floor, if that is all it takes.
MR BERRY: You are quite welcome to walk in any time, Trevor, which is quite different from the circumstances that existed when you were in government. You can have a cup of tea. We take care of our old mates.
Mr Speaker, in considering the results of the study and assessing a strategy for the future, the Government will give prime consideration to the importance of providing a comprehensive and high quality hospital system for the people of Canberra. In meeting the highest priority needs of the community, the Government is committed to social justice and to providing accessible and affordable health care.
You will be aware of the problems we have inherited with the health budget and the reality of the need to contain both capital and ongoing costs. You are also aware of the criticism that the ACT health system has received in the past. We have a very real opportunity now to reconsider the longer-term provision of hospital services in the ACT. The Government will be endeavouring to provide the highest quality services at affordable capital and recurrent costs. It will be doing so amidst a variety of pressures to provide new and expanded services. Given the importance of the outcome, the Government will not be rushed into a decision without proper consideration of the issues. Cabinet, of course, will be considering this matter before I make the statement, and I will be making a substantive statement to the Assembly on this issue next week.
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