Page 3424 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 25 November 1992
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Once the decision was taken to close it, we again surveyed people in Canberra. They wanted it reopened, but that was ignored by the Labor and Liberal parties in this Assembly. When we asked people whether they wanted the Acton Peninsula site to be retained for community health services, once again, overwhelmingly they said yes. When we asked them whether they wanted a hospice on the site, again, overwhelmingly they said yes. Mr Kaine may not be aware of a ground swell that wants the Acton Peninsula site retained for health services; but, if you get out there and survey people and talk to enough people, you will find that it is there strongly.
Everybody in this room, if they acknowledge the truth, would know full well that the vast majority of people in our community want the Royal Canberra Hospital site, the Acton Peninsula site, retained for community health services. Some 60,000 people - one-third of the voters in Canberra - signed a petition to save the Royal Canberra Hospital. What sort of people, in the face of that community will, would close the Royal Canberra Hospital? We understand what sort of people. We see them here today. It was a dastardly deed that closed the Royal Canberra Hospital. It was a dastardly deed for the Labor Party, when they had the power to reverse the decision - when they had the power to pass the Bill they introduced and knew that it would not be passed - to fail to do so.
It is Labor policy, as Mr Moore said, to use the Acton Peninsula for community health services. The fact that the Federal Government have other policies is neither here nor there. We should fight them at every turn. We should fight on behalf of the people of Canberra and stand up against those politicians in the Federal Parliament who could not give a continental about people in Canberra.
Mr Moore mentioned earlier that the Royal Canberra Hospital site has a great convalescent value. One of the members said that there was no real convalescent value there. What absolute nonsense! If there is one thing that people who are not well need, it is a harm-free, stress-free environment in which to relax and get well. It is not the drugs that do the healing; it is the body that does the healing, and the person needs a peaceful environment. Where could you find a better spot than the Royal Canberra Hospital on Acton Peninsula?
The National Planning Authority talked about the site being used for recreation facilities, among other things. Some would see recreation facilities on the Acton Peninsula as including a permanent casino. Given the chance, I am sure that that could happen. Once again, we should fight on behalf of the people of Canberra against anyone who would use the Royal Canberra Hospital site for anything other than health facilities, until it becomes overwhelmingly obvious to even the slowest of people that we need another hospital to solve the hospital bed shortage, and then the Royal Canberra Hospital can be reopened and regain its correct name.
I commend Mr Moore for introducing the motion, for standing up for the people of Canberra on this issue, as he has done repeatedly over the last three-and-a-half years. Only two people in this Assembly have continually stood up for the people of Canberra - the 60,000 who wanted Royal Canberra Hospital saved.
Mr Kaine: That is rubbish, Dennis. That is political rhetoric, and you know it. You are talking to the gallery.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .