Page 3811 - Week 14 - Thursday, 10 December 1992
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Health Budget
MR DE DOMENICO: Madam Speaker, my question without notice is to the Minister for Health, Mr Berry. I refer the Minister to the answer of the Chief Minister yesterday to Mr Kaine's question, and also to Mr Berry's interjection - because he never answers questions - in which he said of his portfolio, "It is all about knowing what is going on". Seeing that the Minister knows exactly what is going on in his portfolio, I ask: How much money has the ACT health system spent since 1 July this year, and what is the current blow-out?
MR BERRY: I thank Mr De Domenico very much for his question because it gives me the opportunity to point out a few things. First of all, your health spokesperson was supplied with the most up-to-date figures for the most recent quarter, as I promised I would. I have already indicated to her that when the next quarter's figures come out there will be a different approach to how those figures are provided, in accord with her express wish. So, each three months these figures will be provided not only to the Assembly but specifically to the Liberal Party. We will keep you informed and up to date all the way along.
Mr Kaine: That will be a big change.
MR BERRY: Mr Kaine interjects, "That will be a big change". No; since Labor has taken office we have continually kept you across the expenditure in Health by way of information which has been unprecedented. You will be kept up to date all the time.
In relation to expenditure within the hospital system, there has been an attempt to create the impression that something absolutely outrageous is occurring in Health. I have told you that for this time of the year expenditure is predictably higher than at other times. If expenditure continues at a higher rate, then, of course, there would be expenditure beyond the limits of the budget by the end of the financial year. But, as usual, the board and management have to take action to pull back the spending effort of Health and I announced only a couple of days ago the Christmas bed closures which will result in a change in expenditure patterns.
You cannot get away with creating this false impression that something is altogether wrong. Yes, there is pressure on the health budget. That was made very clear to you when the question was raised with the Chief Minister. The pressure is on because there is less money in the health budget this year to deliver services which are increasingly pressured towards a growth rate. We have less money to provide services for which there is increasing demand. I think, Madam Speaker, that Mr De Domenico ought really to come to grips with the issues in Health before he raises questions about them, because, as I have informed this Assembly before, the health budget is a complex area. We will keep this Assembly informed on a quarter by quarter basis on the expenditure patterns in Health. Mrs Carnell has raised a particular issue with me, in the company of Mr Moore, and I have agreed to provide extra figures - - -
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