Page 3068 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 10 September 1991
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Briefly, in response to a number of things that have been said, the original Rally position was this: We wanted to keep the Royal Canberra Hospital open. I stood in assemblies with Mr Berry and others trying to do that. One of the saddest things for us in the three years of the Assembly is that the Royal Canberra Hospital now, temporarily at least, seems to be closed.
In the Alliance Government, on technical and financial advice, we were persuaded that the hospital could not continue as a principal or co-principal hospital. From figures given to us, it was very difficult to come to any other conclusion than we did. But we insisted at that time that the medical facilities on the Acton Peninsula be retained and that the peninsula be earmarked for continuing community use, especially for the health of the community. We looked forward, in particular, to the possibility of a community convalescent hospital. We then observed, with great worry, the processes and costs of the redevelopment of Woden Valley Hospital.
A few months ago, encouraged and supported by our own members, we finally agreed on 18 June - less than three months ago - to a number of conclusions. We agreed that the names should revert to the way they were before. We agreed to a moratorium on fast-tracking and we believed that the Labor Party was going to be supportive and helpful at that time. We hoped for better things from them. We called for an overall strategic plan. In particular, we called for the retention of the major trauma and referral hospital on Acton Peninsula. But then, alas, came the study, the $50,000 study, Labor's backdown and Labor's reneging on their promises.
I understand the King Canute analogy. I understand the financial and economic problems. But, when the tide had come in and the tide had gone out, there in ruin was the possibility of a hospice and a community hospital. That, in particular, was a sad thing for us. We did expect a community convalescent hospital on the Acton site. On that particular point the Rally is very sad indeed, and so are our members. So, in general then, the Rally agrees with the matter of public importance, the statement as given. We do not accept some of the smokescreen that has been put before us. We hope, in due course, for a retraction of that denial of the community convalescent hospital.
MR STEVENSON (4.29): On 6 June 1990 Rosemary Follett presented a Bill to save Royal Canberra Hospital. At that time she spoke strongly for the right of the people of Canberra to maintain Royal Canberra Hospital. She said:
... this Bill represents more than just the question of whether the Royal Canberra Hospital survives or not. In a very real sense, it encapsulates everything that is wrong with this Assembly and the dishonest approach that has been taken by the members of the Government.
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