Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 9 Hansard (28 August) . . Page.. 2699 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

But, no, he did not do that. So he did not read the page; he did not read the first table; he did not ask anybody. If he had bothered, he would have learnt that the data at the birthing centre had simply not been compiled in time for the June activity report. Let us not forget that these are the same activity reports that Mr Berry used to receive or could have received when he was Minister, but he certainly did not make them public. From what you would gather from Mr Berry, he did not even ask for them.

For the record, and for the information of other members of this Assembly who do deal in the facts, the birthing centre is open and is staying open. Let us look at the last three months and let us see what happened when it was closed, according to Mr Berry. In June, in our closed birthing centre, 20 babies were born. In July 36 babies were delivered in the birthing centre. So far this month 24 babies have been born in the birthing centre. In fact, in this closed birthing centre, this morning at 2.16 a baby was born. That happened at 2.16 this morning, Mr Speaker, in a birthing centre that Mr Berry said was closed. If you believe Mr Berry, these 80 babies were never delivered in the birthing centre; they could not have been, because it was closed.

Mr Berry also went on to claim that there had been 286 births in the birthing centre in May and then none in June, Mr Speaker. If Mr Berry had ever been to the birthing centre he would know it would be absolutely impossible to have 286 births there in a month. It would be physically impossible, Mr Speaker. Again, a phone call to my office or, for that matter, to the birthing centre, or to anybody else who knows anything about the hospital, would have revealed that the figure of 286 was for other non-inpatient services in that part of the world - that is, services such as checkups and group classes, Mr Berry, not babies being born. Again for the record, in June there were 297 non-inpatient occasions of service. There were also 21 group sessions involving 142 people. In July there were 334 non-inpatient occasions of service and 22 group sessions involving 150 people. So in the last couple of months the level of service has been higher than was the case in May. Mr Berry, wrong again!

Mr Speaker, here we have a politician who cannot pick up the phone and do even basic research. One would have to ask why, Mr Speaker. It is just because he is too thick, possibly. I mean, who knows? Maybe we should relook at salary levels. That has been done recently. Maybe we should have a new statement of duties for - - -

Mr Berry: Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. Mrs Carnell, by using the word "thick", I think, was clearly making a personal imputation. It is not true, of course. Everybody knows that, and she knows it. I have been getting under her skin a bit, but "thick", I think, is not quite fair.

MR SPEAKER: Certainly not in relation to your hairstyle, Mr Berry, but - - -

MRS CARNELL: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I think Mr Berry's job specification should read "No research skills required" because obviously no research was done. The media statement issued by Mr Berry was an absolute disgrace, Mr Speaker. It was nothing more, though, than what I suspect we have come to expect from him. This is not the first time. Unfortunately, I do not believe it will be the last time he will stoop to this level.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .