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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 11 Hansard (10 December) . . Page.. 3479 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

and with Charles Sturt University, mental health; completing arrangements with the Canberra University to commence three additional postgraduate diploma courses for nursing in neonatal intensive care, paediatric and child health and cancer nursing; agreeing to continue to have TCH nurse educators conduct the major portion of each of these university courses, a cost that would otherwise have been incurred by the postgraduate students. University fees were therefore reduced by some $5,000 per course. They also established an introduction to critical care program for critical care staff or those who wish to work in that area, and continued generous Studybank support for tertiary studies.

In reference to the conditions under which nurses work, it is worth noting that all nurses who go to TCH from another State - - -

MR SPEAKER: Mr Minister, is this an answer to a question or a ministerial statement?

MR MOORE: I am just finishing. I have two more lines, Mr Speaker. These are specific and direct answers to the question. All nurses who go to TCH from another State are amazed at the general conditions of service, the facility itself and the overall condition it is in, the quantity and quality of the equipment, the staff to patient ratio and the clinical support. Indeed, I have heard that myself from a number of nurses, Mr Speaker.

MR QUINLAN: I seek leave to make an explanation under standing order 47, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Well, it is standing order 46 actually.

MR QUINLAN: Thank you for your indulgence and assistance, Mr Speaker. During one of the Chief Minister's diatribes that masquerade as an answer to a question without notice, she said, "Mr Quinlan said the Auditor-General's report was a contrivance".

Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, I rise to take a point of order.

MR QUINLAN: That is misrepresenting what I said. I had - - -

MR SPEAKER: Order! We will get through this a lot faster if we stop mucking around.

Mr Corbell: Yes, Gary. Sit down.

Mr Humphries: I am entitled to take a point of order, Mr Corbell. I am sorry if it offends you that I do. Mr Speaker, it is traditional, if one wishes to seek the benefit of standing order 46, that one explains one's action without attacking or vilifying other members. Mr Quinlan did not conform with that convention.

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