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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 1 Hansard (17 February) . . Page.. 257 ..

Mr Berry: Would you like him in the operating theatre when they are doing your circumcision?

MR OSBORNE: He would have had to have been there a long time ago, Mr Berry, if he wanted to see that. Seriously, Mr Speaker, if we are going to say to the Minister, "It is your responsibility ultimately", we need to look at removing paragraph (5). Quite clearly, if we are going to be able to bring him before the Assembly and say we have concerns with how it is going and yet say, "Don't you dare get involved in the day-to-day operations", that contradicts everything that this motion stands for. I understand that the hospital budget is a huge problem, and it has been for previous governments. I even considered amending this motion to condemn all previous Health Ministers, but Mr Humphries did not like that.

Debate interrupted.

ADJOURNMENT

MR SPEAKER: Order! It being 5.00 pm, I propose the question:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

Mr Humphries: I require the question to be put forthwith without debate.

Question resolved in the negative.

HEALTH SYSTEM - MANAGEMENT

Debate resumed.

MR OSBORNE: Mr Speaker, I do not particularly want to do any favours for the Minister and delete paragraph (5), but perhaps we could go through the motion. Can we do that, Mr Speaker? Can we go through it point by point?

MR SPEAKER: We have two amendments, yes.

MR OSBORNE: If we are going to say to the Minister, "You are ultimately responsible", we need to be able to give him, at least, the opportunity to go into the management of the hospital and try to turn it around. I do not know that paragraph (5) is sensible. I think there has been a fair amount of indignation from the Government on this motion. I do not think it warranted that. Obviously, Mr Moore would rather it were not passed. I think it is sending a clear message that this Government, not just the Minister, needs to turn it around, so I will be supporting it. Unlike my Liberal colleague here, Mr Rugendyke, I do think it is a debate worth having and we need to put the ball back in the Government's court. Mr Speaker, I will be supporting it and we will see what happens with paragraph (5) later on.

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