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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1995 Week 11 Hansard (13 December) . . Page.. 2973 ..

MR WOOD: I have a supplementary question. I thought that the Chief Minister would have known that. Thank you for the offer to tell us. Will you also table Mr Houlihan's contract, his terms of reference, and the gazettal of his appointment?

MRS CARNELL: I am very happy to table Mr Houlihan's terms of reference. That is not a problem.

Woden Valley Hospital - Nursing Staff

MR CONNOLLY: My question is to the Chief Minister as Minister for Health. Minister, can you confirm that at the same time as you are flying one doctor from Taree to Canberra every week to work as a VMO in the Emergency Department at Woden at $143 an hour, which works out at about half-way between what you are paying Mr Houlihan and what you are paying Mr Anderson - about $1,200 a day - you have had to cut nursing numbers in the Emergency Department?

MRS CARNELL: My advice, Mr Connolly - - -

Mr Berry: Do you not know?

MRS CARNELL: Yes, I do know. My advice, Mr Connolly, is that the nursing staff in accident and emergency are at the accepted level at this stage; the approved level, to make it clear. One of the things that I need to address here, very definitely - - -

Mr Berry: Search your pages. Quick. Can't you find it?

MRS CARNELL: I am just getting the exact figure.

Mr Berry: You do not know at all, do you?

MR SPEAKER: Order! Chief Minister, would you mind resuming your seat. It would appear from the interjections that the Opposition are not terribly interested in hearing the answer to the question.

Mr Connolly: I have the answer here, Mr Cornwell, and I will table it later.

MR SPEAKER: Well, why are you asking the question and wasting the Assembly's time?

Mr Connolly: Because I do not think she will be truthful.

MR SPEAKER: I ask that that be withdrawn.

Mr Connolly: Mr Speaker, experience demonstrates what I said. If you wish me to withdraw, I withdraw.

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