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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 8 Hansard (26 June) . . Page.. 2173 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

Officers of the Department of Health and Community Care are continuing to negotiate for lease of space to private general practitioners who must bulk-bill for health care card holders and their dependants. As of today, an offer has been made to lease space at both Tuggeranong and Narrabundah health centres. I am happy to table that for Ms Tucker if she wants it.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I have further information in answer to a question that Mr Whitecross asked today. He made a comment that I had said something about no new taxes, Mr Speaker. For the interest of those here, I will quote the words that I used on Capital Television on 14 June. I said, "I don't want to give anyone any false expectations here. It's going to be very, very tough, but what we do not want to do is take the easy option and that is to just increase taxes". The fact is, Mr Speaker, that we did not say there would be no new taxes, and we are not just increasing taxes, Mr Speaker. In fact, the taxes that we announced will recoup some $10m of the full $25m that we have to find.

MR DE DOMENICO: During question time this afternoon, in response to a question from Ms Follett, I suggested that one cannot table things that one does not have. I have asked the department to give me some advice since that question by Ms Follett and I am advised, Mr Speaker, that Coopers and Lybrand are doing a report on the organisational review of city operations within DUS. Coopers and Lybrand are looking, amongst other things, at options for the future viability of city operations. They have established a consultative committee, including staff and union representatives. I am advised that there is only a working document at this stage, and it is Coopers and Lybrand's working document. In fact the department does not even have a copy of it yet. I am advised that the draft report is not due until next week. I am happy to provide a brief to Ms Follett once the draft report is available and I have seen it. I have not seen anything yet. I am also advised, Mr Speaker, that it is the consultant's working document, and that is all that is available. I have the consultants, by the way, writing a letter telling me exactly what is available and what is not available. It is very difficult to table a draft document that is going to be used to do a draft report which will be available next week.

MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, I seek leave to make a short statement in relation to claims made by Mrs Carnell about operations carried out at our public hospitals.

Mrs Carnell: I just thanked you for helping us. Go ahead.

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