Page 1134 - Week 04 - Thursday, 21 April 1994
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
the report. I agreed to that; but on my feet today I have to make that point because, as a member of the Labor Party, I represent, I would say, nearly all the blue-collar workers in this city. Many blue-collar workers would love to get $396,000 a year.
One other thing in the report worried me. We pay a Medicare levy, and I think that every Australian is entitled to public care. People will say to you, "But that is wrong. If people have private insurance, then they should be paying". My argument is that we do not want to have a two-class health system; we want to have the very best and a one-class health system. We pay a Medicare levy, and I believe that everybody has the right to public care. So I did not quite agree with all the comments about private patients.
The Auditor-General brought to light quite a few things that needed to be tidied up in the Health Department, and I am quite sure that the necessary action will be taken. That is what we have an Auditor-General for. He points to the Government areas where money can be saved. If VMO salaries were not part of our inquiry, then I do not know why we had VMOs present at a public hearing at which their salaries were brought up. I would like to thank the members on the committee. Mr Kaine is a very good chairman. He listens to you and gives you an opportunity to say what you want to say. I was able to put my point of view. We agreed to disagree on some things. I also thank the secretariat. It is always a hard job for them to put reports together. I think they all do a very good job.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
Motion (by Mr Berry) agreed to:
That, pursuant to standing order 77(d), executive business be called on forthwith.
ELECTORAL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993
Detail Stage
Clause 22, as amended
Debate resumed from 20 April 1994.
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (12.04): Madam Speaker, I wish to move some further amendments to clause 22. I would like first to ask for leave to move a number of amendments together. They all have the same purpose. Those amendments are Nos 37, 42, 43, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 and 51.
Leave not granted.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .