Page 2663 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 25 August 1993
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Doctor's Surgery Sign
MS ELLIS: My question is directed to the Deputy Chief Minister in his capacity as Minister for Health. I ask: Is the Minister aware of the irregularities in the sign on a doctor's surgery at O'Connor, and what is being done about it?
MR BERRY: I thank Ms Ellis for the question. Yes, I am aware of the issue. It has received fairly wide publicity throughout the ACT. It seems - at least on the face of it - to have centred around the issue of bulkbilling, though I understand that an inquiry is being held by the Medical Board to look into what might be breaches of their particular regulations in relation to advertising.
There is an issue about bulkbilling which I think we need to make clear - that is, this Government's commitment to it. We are committed to making sure that information is available to the community about those practitioners who bulkbill. I am considering this issue at this time with a view to amending the regulations, where that is appropriate, to allow for appropriate advertising of bulkbilling, which I think is quite appropriate on the front of the premises of a doctor who practises bulkbilling. That will reflect our commitment to supporting bulkbilling. We will continue to support efforts by doctors and others who promote bulkbilling in the community. Improving the signage that general practitioners can put on their premises is one way of doing that.
Tourism Commission - Advisory Board
MR DE DOMENICO: Madam Speaker, my question is addressed to the Chief Minister and alludes to the question asked by Mrs Carnell. I refer the Chief Minister to her ministerial statement recorded in Hansard in which she stated:
I am glad to be able to tell the house that I have appointed Mr Charles Wright ... to be chair of the advisory board of the ACT Tourism Commission. Mr Wright brings a wealth of experience in government and public relations.
Mr Humphries: More the former than the latter.
MR DE DOMENICO: Yes, more the former than the latter. I ask the Chief Minister: Was she then aware of Mr Wright's background and his naming in the Western Australian royal commission into the activities of government and other matters? If she was aware, would she still have considered Mr Wright an appropriate appointment, in light of what was written about him in the report of the Western Australian royal commission?
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, of course I was aware of the media reports relating to the Western Australian royal commission. I was also aware of Mr Wright's standing as a businessman in this community, of his own company and of his activities in relation to, say, the RSPCA and the RSL. He is also on the board of the Australian War Memorial. He has given service to this community in many areas, including doing a great deal of the organising for the Vietnam veterans memorial and the events that surrounded the unveiling of that war memorial. I believe that, in the light of that sort of experience, he is an
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