Page 288 - Week 01 - Thursday, 24 February 1994
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bagging Health Minister Tehan there in much the same way as they bag us and as you bag us. We look at outputs in the health system. One of the remarkable indicators of efficiency that we have had is the indicators on outpatients services. We have gone from some 354,000 occasions of treatment in 1991-92 to some 422,000 occasions of treatment in 1992-93.
Mr De Domenico: Has the population gone up in proportion to that as well?
MR CONNOLLY: No, absolutely not. That is an increase of about 19 per cent, but when you take into account other factors it amounts to about a 10 per cent increase when you have an increase of population of about 2 per cent. It is a dramatic increase in efficiency, as we have seen throughout the health system. Simply counting bed numbers is a great tool for oppositions. Oppositions of whatever political persuasion use them all around Australia, but it means nothing.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! The time for the MPI has expired.
NOISE CONTROL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993
Debate resumed from 14 October 1993, on motion by Mr Wood:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
MR WESTENDE (4.09): Madam Speaker, the Liberal Party is in general agreement with the amendments contained in the Noise Control (Amendment) Bill 1993. However, there are a few points on which we would like some clarification, or on which we would like the Minister to make some noises. One is the urgency of these amendments. As the Minister as recently as October last year tabled a proposal for integrated environment protection legislation, would it not have been better to wait until that integrated environment protection legislation was put before the house? In that discussion paper the Government proposed to combine the Air Pollution Act, the Water Pollution Act, the Noise Control Act, the Pesticides Act and the Ozone Protection Act. The basis of that legislation will be to ensure effective protection of our environment in the future.
The old section 12 of the Noise Control Manual, which related to general motor sports noise measurement, including motocross and mini-bikes - the drive-by test - was deleted previously. We believe that a new section 12 on motor sports should be written into the Noise Control Manual in accordance with, or as close as practicable to, the Australian Standards on motor sports. This would bring the ACT into line with most States of Australia, including New South Wales, which already apply the Australian Standards with regard to motor sports. Remember that for certain venues we might have to compete with New South Wales, at places such as Goulburn where they already have tracks. Just as the Noise Control Manual covers the measuring and testing procedures for such items as air-conditioners, lawn-mowers, air-compressors, pneumatic tools and motor boats, so the manual must also cover motor sports.
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