Page 6099 - Week 18 - Thursday, 12 December 1991
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Unfortunately, your objection, along with these lunatics opposite in relation to Aidex, is totally misfounded. I am pleased to see that at least my party had the foresight to see the value of something like Aidex, not only for its benefit to Canberra but for its benefit to the whole system of Western defence.
Debate interrupted.
HOSPITAL BED NUMBERS - SELECT COMMITTEE
Leave to Table Report
MR HUMPHRIES (6.56): In light of the considerable interest in the report of the Select Committee on Hospital Bed Numbers, I seek leave of the Assembly to table this report.
Leave not granted.
Suspension of Standing and Temporary Orders
MR HUMPHRIES (6.56): Since leave is not granted, I move:
That so much of the standing and temporary orders be suspended as would prevent Mr Humphries from tabling the report of the Select Committee on Hospital Bed Numbers.
MR BERRY (Minister for Health and Minister for Sport) (6.57): It pleases me to rise on this issue because I wish to point out the circumstances which precede the attempted tabling of this report. I refer the house to page 614 of House of Representatives Practice and the paragraph headed "Premature disclosure or publication".
We know that WIN News reported the details of this report this evening. These are the reports from WIN News. They say that the chief findings of the report include: The need to urgently rethink the Government's plans to cut bed numbers and major reforms; that the Government is going too far too fast in reducing bed numbers; that the hospital is grossly over-administered; that there are increased waiting lists; that the Woden Valley Hospital is in serious need of upgrade to A and E; that there are too many clerks at the expense of clinical areas, with something like 1.8 administrators for the average. Mr Humphries said that we should urgently reconsider bed numbers, reduce hospital administrators and be more open; that Woden Valley Hospital casualty should be upgraded; and that we should reopen tenders for the new private hospital. That is it in as many words.
Mr Speaker, our standing orders make the position clear. Standing order 241 states:
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .