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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 5 Hansard (15 May) . . Page.. 1487 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

Certainly, this side of the house has done so too. I hope that Ms McRae has not done permanent damage to the efforts that we have made to generate a regional identity and to break down the artificial barriers that have existed in the past, and that obviously Ms McRae clings to. We will certainly be doing everything in our power to undo the damage that Ms McRae has done.

Mr Speaker, just last week we had the Opposition Leader, Mr Whitecross, calling for a regional industry strategy. Well, we see what he meant by that. The cat is out of the bag. Labor's view of a regional industry policy is to push all those poor people over the border and try to retain an oasis of wealth here in the ACT or here in Canberra. All I can say, Mr Speaker, is that it is chardonnay socialism at its worst.

MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Chief Minister in her capacity as Minister for Health.

Mr Humphries: Mr Corbell was on his feet first, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Berry stood first earlier.

MR BERRY: Chief Minister, given the number of tobacco-related deaths in the ACT, many of which would have occurred in our own hospital system, the financial impact of smoking on the community as a result of those deaths, and, of course, as a result of the impact of illness on our hospital system - those people you will find in our coronary care unit as a result of heart attacks - - -

Mrs Carnell: At least we are going to have a coronary care unit.

Mr Corbell: Why do you not just listen to the question?

MR BERRY: Indeed. Consider the people in our rehabilitation unit, many of whom have lost limbs as a result of smokers disease, and the alarming number of young people, particularly women, who take up smoking each year. Chief Minister and Minister for Health, do you believe that reduced tobacco consumption would assist in reducing pain, suffering and early death in the ACT and, as a consequence, the high impact of illness on our hospital system?

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I think this Assembly - certainly, those on this side of the house - is very proud that our legislation on smoke-free areas is leading the rest of Australia. We have been very proud to be part of that sort of legislation.

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