Page 4656 - Week 15 - Thursday, 21 November 1991
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MR STEVENSON: I ask a supplementary question. Mr Connolly was quoted as saying that the faulty fans should not be dumped but destroyed. That would make it very hard for someone to seek compensation, unless they took the bits along. Was that basically a misquote of what was said? Would it be best simply not to use them but keep them for possible compensation?
MR CONNOLLY: Yes, I suppose Mr Stevenson's point has some validity; it would be best to disable the fan and not use it. The essence of the Government's response was that we wanted to get out to consumers a quick message that there is a risk; do not use this product and certainly do not sell it or get rid of it. I think the reason why we said "Do not dump it" was that these fans look, to all intents and purposes, like a very pleasant fan and if you threw it on the tip somebody else might come and grab it and it would be back in the community. There may be - - -
Mr Duby: Revolve will have a special on fans.
MR CONNOLLY: Revolve may have a special on fans, as Mr Duby says. We are essentially saying, "Do not use the things". There are some - - -
Mr Stevenson: Would it be worthwhile saying that they should be kept but disabled?
MR CONNOLLY: They certainly should not be used.
Health Budget - Staff Reductions
MR KAINE: I would like to direct a question to the Minister for Health. Minister, you told the Estimates Committee that a significant proportion of your savings in the health budget would come from staff reductions. I think you referred to a figure of some 275 jobs that had to go. Given that we are now five months into the fiscal year, can you tell us how the staff cuts program is going? How many jobs have been shed so far from your Health Department, and how many more are to go by the end of the financial year?
MR BERRY: I would have thought that the Chief Minister would have asked a more pressing question which included the names and addresses of all of those people who have lost their jobs. The issue of changes in the health system is one of significance for the board. There is a close consultation process going on between management and unions in relation to how the budget that the board has to live with will be delivered. I certainly cannot give figures on progress at this point. It is silly to suggest that a Minister would have those sorts of details at his fingertips. But what I can say - - -
Mr Jensen: Who is responsible, Wayne?
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