Page 3990 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 22 October 1991
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services. In particular, I have been unhappy about the maximum cost of the redevelopment, reduction of jobs, the Royal Canberra Hospital closure, long waiting lists for surgery, budget overruns.
Is it not the case, Mr Berry, that you have misled every single member of your staff in that, since you have been Minister, you have increased the number of jobs to be lost; you have proceeded with the closure of the Royal Canberra Hospital, about which you expressed so much concern; and you have increased the chances of long waiting lists, both by closing hospital beds and by extending the Christmas shutdown by an additional two weeks? Now let us see you answer one.
MR BERRY: I am glad to rise this week to an opportunity to respond on matters concerning our hospital system. It is particularly notable this week that the Liberal Opposition have taken their lead from the Canberra Times. They did not have an innovative idea of their own; they had to read the Canberra Times on Saturday morning to work out that questions needed to be asked on health. It is a sign of how ineffective the leader of the Liberals has been to date. It was quite correct of the Canberra Times to point out - - -
Mr Kaine: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: I suggest that the Minister address the question that was asked. As is always the case, he will talk for 10 minutes, but he will not answer the question.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Please proceed with the answer, Mr Berry.
MR BERRY: It demonstrated how ineffective the Liberal members of this Assembly are at coming up with an original idea on the issue of health. It also demonstrated, Mr Speaker, how ineffective - - -
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Berry, I would ask you to answer the question, if you would not mind.
MR BERRY: Indeed, sir, I will. Question time is only short, but all of these interruptions make it much shorter. Mr Kaine does not have an innovative thought in his head in relation to hospital issues. Now that he has taken the direction that was provided by the Canberra Times, I am happy to respond to what he has said. What Labor is about, Mr Speaker, is repairing the damage that was done to our public hospital system, by the Liberal members particularly.
Mr Kaine: On a point of order: This is typical. This Minister, once again, is going to refuse to answer the question. I repeat the question, Mr Speaker: Did he not mislead his staff in that letter that he wrote to them? Why do you not answer that part of it?
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