Page 2902 - Week 10 - Thursday, 15 August 1991
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MR BERRY: We know as well that the private hospital beds already in existence have low occupancy rates when compared to the public sector. We are going to create on the Acton Peninsula a centre of excellence in convalescent and rehabilitation care. Those are the facts which, though they might sting, are the ones which are going to set the Labor Party's plans for our hospital system apart from those of the conservatives. All that was required was some lateral thinking and the application of a social justice principle to the decision making process to come up with a decision which will produce something better for the people of the Territory through the public hospital system.
Mr Speaker, the vision for Acton is to provide a major focus for new ways of working with long-term and short-term disabilities; to inspire confidence in their ability to return to living full and independent lives as quickly as possible; to improve opportunities for employment and active participation in society. I think, Mr Speaker, that that is an entirely appropriate social justice initiative for any government to take. The Labor Party and the Follett Labor Government took that initiative that I have announced. We will work on it and develop those services on the Acton site to a standard of which the ACT can be proud.
It is laughable to suggest that Labor has failed to act as a matter of urgency. Mr Speaker, Labor took office on the collapse of the Alliance Government and we inherited a hospital system that was in trouble. We inherited a hospital system that was not providing the services required by the community. The long waiting lists for surgery in our hospitals, left behind as some sort of a political booby trap by the former Minister, bear testimony to that. The short delay while we sought to save Royal Canberra Hospital was worth it and can hardly be described as a problem. It was an appropriate way to go.
The hospital system was in a state of confusion because of the former Government's actions. Labor, of course, had to examine the matter closely and come up with a credible report in relation to the state of the hospital system and the directions that the Labor Government could take for the future, particularly for a service - - -
Mr Humphries: You do not believe this, do you, Wayne? Someone has written this for you, haven't they? You are just reading it.
MR BERRY: In fact, that was not off the speech, Gary. If I had been writing it, I would have put that last bit in because I think it is absolutely necessary to point out the failings of the Alliance Government. I notice that it has worked, because you got a bit prickly on the subject. I do not blame you, because if I had the things to worry about that you have in relation to your management of the hospital system I would be a bit edgy. In fact, I would
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