Page 385 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 23 February 1993
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The Government has appreciated and would like to publicly acknowledge its appreciation of the contribution made by the board in the development of a tangible culture of quality, efficiency and disciplined planning which has become the prevailing environment within ACT Health. Increased accountability is now a hallmark of ACT Health, as can be seen in processes such as formal monthly financial reporting, improved figures and an ability to determine underlying problems at an early stage, thus allowing for early intervention. It is interesting to note that ACT Health is the only government organisation in this town which is required to undergo such a stringent level of scrutiny, and it is to the credit of the organisation that it is able to provide the people of Canberra with such a high level of quality services.
This culture of quality not only will continue into the Department of Health but will be expanded and enhanced by the skilful management ability already demonstrated by the current senior management team of ACT Health. The time is now right for ACT Health to move on. The conditions which prevailed at the time the board was established no longer pertain. The management of ACT Health is now disciplined, accountable and forward looking. The movement to a department structure will further enhance accountability by removing an extra layer of management which is no longer a necessity for the continuation of rigour in management practices. It is timely and valid to ask, "Why should not Health be a department like all other agencies? Why should such a sensitive area as Health be handled any differently to any other portfolio?". The answer is that it should not, and the move to the department status is the right move at the right time for the ACT Department of Health.
I would go on to make one other point. Every single day we hear the carpings of the Opposition - I mean, the Liberal Party; I do apologise to the Independents and the minor parties. In fact, we hear the carpings of the Liberal Opposition. They carp and they carp. They say, "Why is not this board and why is not this management more accountable to this Assembly?". Here is a procedure which will ensure that. A procedure is being put into place which will ensure that the head, the person responsible, the person with whom the buck stops, reports and is present in this Assembly where the processes that he as the Minister for Health is responsible for will be subject to the direct scrutiny and questioning of this house.
So it is indeed a travesty that they have got on their bikes and pedalled them out of here this evening in shame. It is shame at what they have done, shame at what they have caused to be done and shame for finally realising that their carping has not worn away at the Government, it has not worn away at the officers in the ACT Department of Health who will be responsible for the provision of health in the ACT, but in fact it has worn away the people whom they appointed to head up their Board of Health.
It is appropriate that this Bill pass this week. It is appropriate so that on the commencement of next month the ACT Legislative Assembly will have directly responsible to it one of the areas of major concern to people in Australia. It is appropriate that this Bill have as part of it the Medicare arrangements that have been so ably negotiated by the Minister for Health and for which he should be congratulated. Madam Speaker, I could probably go on for the next nine-and-a-half minutes about the level of desperation of the Opposition, but I do believe that that could be taken - - -
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