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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 8 Hansard (26 June) . . Page.. 2158 ..

Mr Berry: Mr Speaker, I would like to make a personal explanation, pursuant to - - -

MR SPEAKER: Not just yet, Mr Berry. You will have your chance. I will be happy to let you do it.

Mr Berry: I would like to make a personal explanation, pursuant to standing order 46.

MR SPEAKER: Yes; but not just at the moment.

Mr Berry: I would like to do it in the heat of the moment because Mrs Carnell made certain accusations in her answer.

MR SPEAKER: I have called Mr Hird for the next question. Please resume your seat. You are not at liberty to do that. Mr Hird, your question, please.

MR HIRD: My question is to the Chief Minister and Minister for Health and Community Care.

Members interjected.

MR HIRD: You be quiet over there. Mr Speaker, could you tell them to behave themselves.

MR SPEAKER: I will deal with the interjections. You just ask your question, please.

MR HIRD: Please do, under standing order 39, and under standing order 37, too. Chief Minister, for many years now the waiting list for elective surgery in Canberra public hospitals - - -

Members interjected.

MR HIRD: It may be a bitter pill for you people.

Mr De Domenico: More good news.

MR HIRD: Good news. The waiting list has been a source of great concern, certainly to those on this side of the house. What are the latest figures on the number of people waiting for elective surgery, and how does the record of the past 15 months compare with that of the previous Government and its management of these problems?

MRS CARNELL: Thank you very much, Mr Hird, for that question. Waiting lists for elective surgery are an important measure of how accessible our hospital system is to people who need surgery. They are not the only measure - except that at one stage Mr Berry actually believed that they were, when Mr Humphries was Minister.

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