Page 2903 - Week 10 - Thursday, 15 August 1991
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have been looking for another portfolio; I would have given it to somebody else. Mr Speaker, if Mr Humphries had been sensible in his political career, though I must say that he has the blowtorch on the belly now, he would have sought another portfolio.
I see the Speaker having a bit of a giggle. He does not mind seeing Mr Humphries squirm a little bit, because his colleagues over there did not look after him in the recent preselection. I must say that if I were in your position, Mr Speaker, I would be having a bit of a giggle at those members who ended up on the ticket.
MR SPEAKER: Relevance, please, as much as I - - -
MR BERRY: I know that it is hard for you to stop me, Mr Speaker; you look as though you are really enjoying this.
MR SPEAKER: It is nice to hear some straight talk. But is it relevant? That is the question.
MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, we have all worked long and hard in the shortest possible time to ensure that our decisions meet the best interests of the people of Canberra, and I have delivered an outcome which exceeds by far that which was previously offered.
DR KINLOCH (3.35): I note in the matter of public importance the stress on the theme of the aged. It refers to the Follett Government's continued attack on the Territory's aged. So, I commend Mr Humphries - after all, he is a very young man - for showing a concern for those of us, perhaps, of rather riper years. Of course, Mr Kaine and I would not accept the term "aged", would we? We know that we are just blossoming at this time of life. However, that is the term that gets used. I therefore have to declare an interest. I am in my mid-60s - that is one part of the interest - and I live on the north side - that is another part of the interest, because of the problems about what is not necessarily now on the north side. In connection with the MPI, I note that my father was a patient at Jindalee, where he died.
On behalf of the Rally, I generally support the bulk of Mr Humphries' remarks, although I have some reservations about the proposed site of the RSL units. Nor would I wish to say an either/or; I would not wish to make an association between the problem of the hospice and what has been done about some schools. The Rally supports the maintenance of the neighbourhood schools.
In particular, I worry about the degree to which the ALP Government's health policies affect and damage the interests of the over-60s, whether called aged or not - the retired; and finally, the very seriously and terminally ill in their final year of life. If you run down Mr Humphries' list, at every point it does seem that the aged, the over-60s or the retired are somehow or other the victims of these policies.
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