Page 2883 - Week 10 - Thursday, 15 August 1991
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MR HUMPHRIES: If Mr Berry would like me to rephrase the question to suit standing orders, I am very happy to do so. What are the levels of ACT private hospital provision in comparison with the States' - more, less, by how much, et cetera? That is very simple. Is the Government's view the same as the view expressed in their own feasibility study presented to the Government about private hospitals needing to be increased? What strategy is the Government pursuing, if it agrees with that statement, to implement that policy?
MR BERRY: The answer to the first question is that it is higher.
Mr Humphries: What is higher?
MR BERRY: Public hospital beds.
Mr Humphries: I was not asking that. Private hospital beds - - -
MR SPEAKER: Order! Maybe this should be put in writing, if it cannot be understood.
Mr Humphries: It is a perfectly simple question.
MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, if you wish to be on the answering side of the question, what you have to do is get yourself into the government seat first.
MR SPEAKER: What I was proposing was that the question should be put on notice, Mr Berry; but please proceed.
MR BERRY: My understanding of the question is that you want to know whether, in percentage terms, there are more public hospital beds in the ACT than in the other States?
Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, he is being obtuse.
MR BERRY: It is a very complex question.
Mr Humphries: It is a simple question.
MR BERRY: The ratio of public to private beds in the ACT - - -
Mr Humphries: It is very interesting, but it is not my question. Private beds.
MR SPEAKER: Would you rephrase the question again, Mr Humphries.
MR HUMPHRIES: I will ask the question again, Mr Speaker. I quote from the Minister's own feasibility study handed down two days ago in the Assembly, which said on page 62:
There are significant financial advantages to the ACT budget of provision of private hospital beds at a ratio comparable with other States.
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