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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 12 Hansard (13 November) . . Page.. 4158 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

of the new hospital. In other words, they did not do what the terms of reference asked of them. They just suggested that maybe we should have an independent review.

The second recommendation is one I have spoken about with regard to commercial-in-confidence. The third one suggests that the Government Solicitor examine the contract. I gave the committee an opportunity to examine the contract on the basis that it was kept commercial-in-confidence. Mr Berry said that he was not interested in doing so, because all he wanted to do was to make political capital.

Mr Berry: No. I did not say that. You have misled the house again.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, Mr Berry said that he was not interested in looking at it unless he could make it public if there was a problem. I will go back and requote Mr Berry from past Hansards when he has said the exact opposite. I quote again:

It is fair enough that people who have commercial contracts with the ACT would expect them to be kept in confidence.

It is almost impossible to believe that somebody who has made such absolutely categorical comments on commercial-in-confidence in the past would then turn around and not just bring up a recommendation like this, but also refuse to look at the contract unless he was in a position to go public with it if he felt there was a problem. The same person in the past was not even willing to allow anyone else to look at a contract because it was inappropriate.

Mr Speaker, I have to say that I think it is a great pity that the committee process was used for this purpose. A couple of good things have come out of it, though. Interestingly, I think looking at the principle of commercial-in-confidence is one of them. I do believe that that is something we should do as a government. We have certainly been looking at it for a while. At least, we are not two-faced about this. We are consistent about the approach.

Yes, I believe a new private hospital in the ACT will be a good idea. Yes, we have proven that there is a need for the beds if the national average for beds is what we are aiming at. Mr Berry has suggested that that is what we should aim at in the public sector more times than I can remember. So, why would it not be the same in the private sector? Why would we not be aiming at national averages in both the private sector and the public sector? I do not know what the answer to that is. The report certainly does not tell me what the answer to that is.

I am very pleased that there is no indication here by the committee that it was not a good decision or that we should not have gone ahead. There is no recommendation along those lines at all. On that basis, I suppose I should be thankful for small things. But would it not be good if Mr Berry took a deep breath and said, "I will be consistent for a whole two weeks in the Assembly, the last two weeks."?

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