Page 1596 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 19 May 1993
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Mr De Domenico: Then support it.
MR BERRY: It will take its place amongst the priorities of health. The motion will not be opposed, but it is an outrageous strategy to deal with these sorts of services in that way without painting the complete picture. That is a luxury that you have in opposition. You do not have to deliver. All you have to do is screech and complain, and I accept that. But be responsible at the same time. You are not being responsible. You are frightening people who may be sufferers of cancer or who might fear cancer.
Mr De Domenico: Have you issued a press release on this item?
MR BERRY: Indeed, I will be doing so. What the Liberals have done is take attention away from the very important services that are provided. You are pretending that we are doing nothing, instead of drawing to the attention of the community what very important services are available in the ACT. A cancer registry is fine, and it will come; but it will have to stand up against other health priorities. Cancer is not the only thing that people die of. Cancer is not the only thing that makes people ill. We have a health system to run. A cancer registry will not treat one person - and the treatment has to be provided. The cancer registry will come. As has been said, it is an important tool in the treatment of cancer; but by itself it cannot cure one person.
We have to focus on a complete package of services to the community. We have to deal with the treatment. We have to provide the money for it, and we will continue to do that. Next week you will see the $2m linear accelerator which will be provided for the people of the ACT for cancer treatment. Where are the accolades for providing that? Where are the accolades from the Liberal Party to the Government for providing that service? There is not a sound. All we hear is a screech in relation to the matter of a registry.
Our record stands. We have a good record in relation to the treatment of cancer patients in the ACT, and we will get better at it. We have a hospital system which has been in decline and is being rebuilt. This Government's focus has always been on providing a strong public hospital service - unlike the Liberals, who would force many public patients into expensive private beds that they cannot afford. They are still following the policies of John Hewson and John Howard on those issues. There has been no change at all. Who would run the cancer registry in Mrs Carnell's ideal world? Would you contract it out? She likes to contract services out.
This motion, which will not be opposed by the Government, cannot be opposed because a cancer registry is something that we will have to have, but it will have to stand on its own merit amongst all the other priorities in health. It will be a matter for decision by the Government amongst other decisions which are taken by the Government from time to time.
MR MOORE (12.21): Madam Speaker, I think it is appropriate to continue the tone that Mr Berry started. The Government has a good record in taking positive action in health promotion and cancer prevention. Mr Berry made that very clear and enumerated some government initiatives. Mrs Carnell's motion draws attention to a small gap in the overall plans. I think that is a quite important gap to draw attention to.
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