Page 4117 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 24 November 1993
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Let us go through it again. Doctors are not particularly happy with Mr Berry. The nurses are not particularly happy with Mr Berry. Morale in the ACT health system is at an all-time low. As from tomorrow nurses are going out from time to time, and are not even telling Mr Berry when they are going out. We have talked a lot about the Industrial Relations Commission, an arbitrator and all this sort of thing as well. The nurses are going out and are having stop-work meetings. The Industrial Relations Commission has said, "Listen, before we settle this at the arbitrator level, do not send out memos about shifts and all sorts of things, Mr Berry". But what does this Government do? It says, "Let us ignore the suggestions of the Industrial Relations Commission". How can Mr Berry expect the doctors to believe him when he says that he is prepared to take the umpire's decision, even if they concede - I do not believe that it is correct anyway - that the Industrial Relations Commission is the appropriate place to negotiate? The bottom line, when one thinks of that, is that ever since this Minister has been in charge of this health system we have gone downhill. By any statistical measure, by the Minister's own report, we have gone downhill.
Once again, the facts are harsh. In the first quarter we are down $3.073m. Mr Berry comes in here and says, "That is because we are treating more people". Let us have a look at that. How can you be treating more people if in the same breath you are saying, "We are not going to be treating any more people than we did last year"? You cannot have it both ways. You cannot boast and say, "Listen, the system is going magnificently because we are treating more people", and on the other hand say, "We have budgeted to treat only the same number of people as we did last year". Which is it going to be? Do you not take into account the fact that the population is growing? No, of course not. Once again we have talked about all sorts of things. I think the best word that I have heard used this afternoon to describe what has happened to the hospital system is that it has been torpedoed by one person, and one person only. That person is sitting opposite here - the Minister for Health, Mr Berry, who is also the Minister for Industrial Relations.
Ms Follett: Nonsense!
MR DE DOMENICO: The Chief Minister says, "Nonsense!". She knows that he is the greatest embarrassment that this Government has, or will ever have. He is a walking political pyromaniac. Everything he does turns into fire. He tries to stop it by pouring petrol over it.
Mr Lamont: You are not going to get personal about it, are you?
MR DE DOMENICO: The very day, Mr Lamont, that you cease being personal I will do the same. You, of all people, dare not talk about that sort of thing.
Mr Lamont: Do not get down in the gutter again, Mr De Domenico. You have a lesser distance to go than I do. I understand that.
MR DE DOMENICO: We will not get personal, will we, Mr Lamont? Okay.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order!
MR DE DOMENICO: Thank you. Madam Speaker, beyond any shadow of a doubt, when we look at any measure of managerial capability, this Minister opposite cannot, and should not, be left in charge of our health system.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .