Page 2643 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 25 August 1993
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The Family Planning Association intends to set up a company called Reproductive Health Services which will be a "not for profit" organisation that will provide a range of services for which a Medicare rebate will be claimable. These services will include pregnancy terminations and things such as vasectomies. Counselling of clients seeking these services will be provided both pre- and post-procedure - all the sorts of services that Mrs Carnell wants. The ability of the Family Planning Association to provide these services depends upon suitable clinical space being available. The ACT Health building in Civic is undergoing progressive refurbishment, as I said to you earlier, as more and more community health facilities are located there. The building is in a central location and has suitable space to provide the ideal setting for the proposed reproductive health services clinic.
This Government is not proposing to fund a non-hospital based termination clinic. (Extension of time granted) It is, however, proposing to provide suitable space for a clinic to be operated by a non-government agency. That is not to say that we will have any difficulty with the services that are provided. We are proud to be able to provide refurbishment of space in order that this service can be extended to the community.
Mr Humphries: At what cost?
MR BERRY: Cost? Are you deaf? As I have said over and over again, the ballpark figure was around $100,000 and that was based - - -
Mr De Domenico: All up, forever?
Mr Humphries: Is that the recurrent cost?
MADAM SPEAKER: Order!
MR BERRY: That was the capital cost, I told you.
Mr Humphries: What is the recurrent cost, then?
MADAM SPEAKER: Order!
MR BERRY: That was based on the amount of money that we spent on the breast screening clinic, as a comparison, on around about the same space. This means, Madam Speaker, that there will be extra choices for women and for men in the provision of services here in the ACT, and that will be provided by the company set up by the Family Planning Association. Family planning services are well aware of the burden placed on women who choose an abortion and, therefore, we wish to keep the costs to a minimum. This Government has an obligation to ensure that all of its citizens are treated equally and that a heavy financial burden does not fall on those least able to afford it. We are not going to discriminate in the way that Mr Humphries wants us to. We are not going to discriminate against women in need, and that is what Mr Humphries wants. Mr Humphries wants us to discriminate against women in need.
Mr Humphries made no mention of the effect that the provision of extra services in the ACT will have on existing waiting lists and the existing services that are provided by way of day surgery procedures in the ACT. It is estimated that about 150 women have terminations as a day procedure.
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