Page 4021 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 23 November 1993
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
planning within their region. The ACT costs may be higher than nationally; but this situation is expected, surely, given our unique circumstances. But, of course, Mrs Carnell says, "You must get costs down, but you must not save money on the doctors and you must not make efficiencies with the nurses, or anybody else for that matter".
You are the person who says that we must cut costs but that we cannot cut costs. The costs may be higher because we have only two major hospitals and we service a large region. In fact, the ACT is the major trauma centre for the region, as you all know. (Extension of time granted)
Of course, the hospital system is still working well, despite the actions of the VMOs. I notice that Mrs Carnell still has an infatuation with waiting lists. She sought again to misrepresent the picture in relation to waiting lists. A little while ago I was reading a letter from Senator Richardson in relation to the waiting lists. Nobody else in Australia provides the information that we provide on waiting lists. We are frank. When this difficulty about booked patients was discovered, I immediately moved to make sure that the full picture, the big picture, in terms of waiting lists, was made available to the community.
Mr De Domenico: The picture of waiting lists is getting bigger and bigger.
MR BERRY: We are doing pretty well in the ACT. Of course, it will get bigger now that the doctors have refused to treat elective patients.
Mrs Carnell: They are happy to treat them.
MR BERRY: They will not treat elective patients unless they are emergencies. They want to discriminate against the public - - -
Mr De Domenico: Because you will not let them. You have locked them out. You have put the padlocks on the doors.
MR BERRY: They can come and treat the public patients if they like, but they will not. They will not treat the public patients. They want to discriminate against the public patients and do just their private ones. That is not on.
Mr Kaine: That is because you will not pay them. Why should they come and look after your public patients when you will not pay them?
MR BERRY: We will pay them rates among the highest in Australia if they will just work.
Mr Kaine: Give them a contract, then.
MR BERRY: We gave them a contract for $132 an hour. They will take that bit all right, but the other bits they are a little bit worried about.
Mrs Carnell: Sit down with them and discuss it.
MR BERRY: I have done that.
Mrs Carnell: Once!
MR BERRY: My officers have been doing that for six months.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .