Page 2747 - Week 09 - Thursday, 26 August 1993
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MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mrs Grassby, we are discussing the financial management of ACT Health, not a valedictory.
MRS GRASSBY: I am sorry; I digress. With the cockatoos on the other side chattering away all the time, it is very hard to keep to the point. They make so much noise on the other side, and it is very difficult to keep your mind on things when you have cockatoos chattering all the time. I commend this report, and I think the Minister and the department will take note of it.
MR BERRY (Minister for Health, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Sport) (11.59): The Government will in due course respond fully to the report. May I say that the report will make another positive contribution to the already major developments that have occurred, and which are recognised in the report, in the financial management of the health system. There has never been any question in my mind that they were improving markedly and, from skimming over the report, that is clearly demonstrated by the comments in it. Again I say that in due course we will respond more fully to the report. I think management will see this as another positive tool in the work they are putting into the system. The Government sees it as an endorsement, in many ways, of all the achievements that have been made thus far. There is no question in any of our minds that there is always more work to be done in management; otherwise we would stop where we are. As I have said, the report will play a positive role in the further development of our much improved health system.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
SCRUTINY OF BILLS AND SUBORDINATE LEGISLATION -
STANDING COMMITTEE
Report on Conference
MRS GRASSBY (12.00): I present the report of the Standing Committee on Scrutiny of Bills and Subordinate Legislation on the Fourth Australasian and Pacific Conference on Delegated Legislation and the First Australasian and Pacific Conference on the Scrutiny of Bills. I move:
That the report be noted.
Ms Szuty and I attended the conference in Melbourne. Unfortunately, Mr Humphries was away on his honeymoon, so we were not able to have his company at a most enjoyable conference. One of the most humbling anecdotes from the conference came from the Chief Justice of Victoria. He was commenting on the fact that it was rare for judges to be asked to address parliaments or committees. His only recollection was when in 1964 Sir Charles Lowe, a very long-serving judge, was invited to attend at the bar of the Legislative Assembly and was there thanked for his services. His speech in response featured an admirable economy of language. He said, "I am obliged", bowed and withdrew. I, however, will not be so brief, as I believe that it is incumbent on me to report on the activities of the conference.
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