Page 3395 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 11 October 1994
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MR WOOD: Sheep-run - was that the precise word? I do not know who that was, Chief Minister. With that in mind, it seems strange that the inevitable occurrence of sheep dip sites in one form or another had not been attended to until most recently. We have paid urgent attention to a number of sites in residential areas, as indicated by Ms Szuty. Among other matters, we are in discussion with the occupants of houses on those sites. In one case, the preliminary testing, which we did as a matter of urgency, has indicated levels that are above any recommendations in scientific documents. We are at present discussing with occupants what the best outcome should be.
At the same time, we are pursuing a search for other sites around Canberra - not just sheep dip sites. It is the case that since self-government my colleagues in Urban Services have discovered no record of where ordinary old garbage dumps have been. We are not sure where toxic substances may have been buried at some time in the past. We are engaged in a search for all toxic sites in Canberra. That search has included examination of old maps, talking to people who have properties and talking in neighbourhoods where people may have recollected there were sites. We maintain a plea to the community that, if any person knows the site of a dump or of any point of concern, he should let us know, because we are anxious to conclude as quickly as possible an accurate map of such sites.
Woden Valley Hospital - Patient Numbers
MR STEFANIAK: My question is also directed to the Minister for Health.. On 20 September this year the Minister told the Assembly:
The turnover of patients in Woden is high and, in fact, is higher this year than last year.
The Minister also said:
We are putting people through the hospital at the rate of some 3,600 a month - more than last year - so while you say, "Things have got worse since last year", in fact, we are putting people through the hospital at a more rapid pace.
I ask the Minister: Is he aware that official figures from Woden Valley Hospital to the end of August show a decrease in the number of admissions of 347 patients, or 4.34 per cent? If so, why did he make these statements on 20 September? I seek leave to table a document in relation to those figures, Madam Speaker.
Leave granted.
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