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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 14 Hansard (11 December) . . Page.. 4723 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General) (4.16): Mr Speaker, I think the motion that is being moved today is unfortunate. The Government's attempts here have been not to conclude any particular decision or policy with respect to the Moore Street Health Building but, rather, to explore ways of managing that asset better or to provide for some better realisation of its value to the community. It was never the Government's belief that any resolution of that process could be undertaken - especially if it involved, for example, the sale or leasing or whatever of that building - without some involvement by the Assembly, knowing its extreme sensitivity on issues of this kind. We had that demonstrated to us very clearly by the motion that was passed last year, I think, on health centres. The Government is not stupid. It knows what the consequences are of taking on a course of action that involves closing or moving or selling the property in the health centre.

I say again that I think the Assembly is being a little oversensitive on this subject, and I again plead with members of the Assembly to appreciate that there is a need for the Government to be able to constantly explore better ways of providing for the management of both general policy issues in the Territory and particularly major assets. I certainly recall from my time as Minister for Health considerable concern by workers in that building about the way in which the building operated. For a building which is relatively new - less than 20 years old; it was not much more than 10 years old when I was Minister for Health - it had considerable problems with its operation. I was shown parts of the building which were effectively crumbling or falling down at the time. I would be surprised if anybody, particularly a former Minister for Health, would not be aware of the very significant problems with that building. It is fairly typical, unfortunately, of our Opposition today that they charge at every potential red rag they see, making it nearly impossible to make important decisions about a matter.

I can just see the press releases towards the next election: "Government inactive on major refurbishment of Government buildings" and "Government ignores needs of workers to be able to address health and safety problems".

Mr Berry: Just write that one down: "Government inactive". It is not a bad one.

MR HUMPHRIES: You do not need me to tell you what they are, Mr Berry. You can work them out very well yourself. You have a very good talent at that kind of process.

Mr Berry: I do not mind borrowing an idea or two, especially if they are good ones.

MR HUMPHRIES: I am sure you do not, Mr Berry. I note on the notice paper, Mr Speaker, that there are a series of motions of this kind. There is the one about the Moore Street building. There is the next motion we are going to deal with, about stopping the expressions of interest on the Manuka section 41 car park. We have already had a motion about not proceeding with changes to the School Without Walls. There is a motion about not making any changes in betterment arrangements, standing in Mr Wood's name. I am not sure where that stands. There is one about the Government not undertaking any expansion of the Canberra Airport, and so on.

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