Page 3935 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 9 November 1994
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Mr Humphries: Do you believe what you are told?
MR CONNOLLY: Madam Speaker, I believe that my officers are honest and tell me what is going on. I believe that Woden Valley Hospital is working effectively to deliver on the projected throughput targets. I believe that the obsession with trivia that has been driving this Opposition shows to the people of Canberra that this is a hollow Opposition, with nothing realistic to offer them; only empty rhetoric, absurd promises and an obsession with gutter tactics.
Flynn Primary School - Fire
MS SZUTY: My question without notice is to the Minister for Education and Training, Mr Wood. I refer to the recent fire at Flynn Primary School which caused an estimated $400,000 damage, including smoke damage in certain areas. I note that alternative arrangements have been made swiftly to accommodate the students of Flynn Primary, in particular Year 6 students at Charnwood High School for the rest of the school year. Can the Minister inform the Assembly as to the extent of the damage; when repairs are likely to be completed; and what measures he intends to take to reduce the likelihood of such an incident occurring again in any of Canberra's government schools?
MR WOOD: Madam Speaker, as Ms Szuty says, we did act swiftly to get things in place so that the education programs of the students could continue with as little disruption as possible. The damage was total in one wing, which I believe housed about 90 students. That wing was effectively destroyed and is currently, as I speak, in the process of being demolished. It could not be done on Sunday or Monday, because of the very high winds. Power has been returned to the school. My advice a short time ago was that the school will be back in operation, as well and as comprehensively as it was before, next Monday. Students should report back there next Monday - save those Year 6 students, who will have their place for the remainder of the term at Charnwood High School. Many of them were heading in that direction in any case. That has been the result of a lot of hard work by the teachers at the school and by people in the Education Department. We are now turning our attention to the replacement of that building; just what will happen and when. We would be looking for something next year, if that is possible. Since our efforts have been directed to clearing the site and keeping the children in their education programs, at this stage I cannot make a more definitive statement about the next step.
Woden Valley Hospital - Budget
MR DE DOMENICO: Madam Speaker, my question without notice is also directed to the Minister for Health and emergency parking. In the Minister's media release of 14 June this year he announced that the health budget would receive an extra $14m. I ask the Minister: How, then, does he explain the budget for Woden Valley Hospital being overrun by a massive $2.1m in the first three months of this financial year? How can it cost more money to treat fewer patients?
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .