Page 1070 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 23 June 1992
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Abortion Clinic
MR STEVENSON: My question is directed to the Health Minister, Mr Berry. Would Mr Berry confirm or deny that arrangements already exist within his department to reorder health priorities so that the new No. 1 priority will be the establishment of a taxpayer funded abortion clinic in the ACT; that this clinic has been fully costed; and that the planning for this abortion clinic is largely complete, save for the stamp of approval by the Cabinet?
MR BERRY: No.
MR STEVENSON: I ask a supplementary question. I have in mind a question I asked in December last year of the Health Minister to do with whether or not there was a secret meeting with certain women's groups to establish taxpayer funded abortion clinics in the ACT and the importance in our community of the Minister making matters known when they have been decided or when the intention is there, so that people in Canberra and members of this Assembly can take the necessary actions.
MR BERRY: First of all - - -
Mr Kaine: Tell us about this secret meeting.
MR BERRY: Mr Stevenson has kept it a secret from me; that is the difficulty. I have met with various groups and individuals who are concerned about the provision of termination of pregnancy services in the ACT. Most of their views have been consistent with that of the Government. That is why the Termination of Pregnancy (Repeal) Bill will be before this house later on today.
We have no secret meetings with groups about the provision of services. But, as I said to Mr Humphries earlier on, the Government process - and Mr Humphries would know about this - very clearly makes provision for Cabinet to deal with matters concerning health across a whole range of services. Cabinet has not considered them. Until Cabinet considers them, there will be no announcements in any respect. So it is silly to suggest that there are any secrets being especially kept, or to set up straw men so that you can knock them down in the termination of pregnancy debate. You will have to fight Mr Humphries for the ground, it appears.
This is an issue of community concern, one which we have dealt with in accordance with our policy. That is why the Bill is before this chamber, and that is why members - who cannot wait, it seems, to debate the issue - will have the opportunity to debate the issue this evening. But as for secret deals with anybody, do not try that stuff on us, because it is phoney. You are not going to whip up a storm about those sorts of phoney issues. There are no secrets. There are no deals.
Ms Follett: Mr Deputy Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the notice paper.
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