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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 1 Hansard (17 February) . . Page.. 245 ..

MR HARGREAVES (continuing):

Mr Moore took over the portfolio that there would be that culture change. It has not happened. The staff are no more buoyant, no happier in their jobs, and no more committed to an end result than they were when I worked there. I really would like to see a little more in the culture-change department. It just has not happened. All the high hopes that we had when he first took up the portfolio have not been delivered.

MS TUCKER, by leave: I would like to comment about a couple of things Mr Hargreaves just said. The reason why I put this amendment was that I believed that the way the motion read did not make sense. The list of grievances was specifically around the hospital and, therefore, it was appropriate to make the final sentence refer to the hospital. I have said that I support the overall approach of Mr Moore in the general health area, but I am not saying what Mr Hargreaves just said - that we do not have any problems in the community care sector. I want to get that on the record. We can discuss that another day. For my constituents, particularly in the mental health and disability area, I know that there are some issues, but that is not what is being discussed today. It is not an extremely harsh motion. I would prefer to work constructively on those issues with the Minister.

Amendment (Ms Tucker's) agreed to.

MR SMYTH (Minister for Urban Services) (4.22): Mr Deputy Speaker, I seek leave to move the amendment circulated in Mr Humphries' name.

Leave granted.

MR SMYTH: I move:

Omit all words after "noting" substitute:

"(i) the need to contain the finances of The Canberra Hospital to the hospital's budget;

(ii) the need to ensure that waiting times for elective surgery are kept as low as possible;

(iii) the need for the Minister for Health and Community Care to deal positively with staff at The Canberra Hospital;

(iv) the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer of The Canberra Hospital, and the measures recently instituted to address the Hospital's budget overrun projections;

(v) the need for the Minister for Health and Community Care to maintain firm oversight of the management of The Canberra Hospital;

expresses its insistence that the Government effectively manage the hospital system by ensuring that the services provided for in the annual Purchase Agreement are delivered, and delivered within budget.".

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