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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 3 Hansard (24 March) . . Page.. 759 ..

Hepatitis C

MR MOORE: I would like to clarify a couple of issues, Mr Speaker, from question time. I have been provided with a bit more information. Mr Berry asked me about the numbers that are being handled in regard to hepatitis C. The number of cases being handled by the Government at the moment is 35. Of the number of cases being processed for consideration of payment in the Government's compensation scheme, 11 cases have been concluded. Of those 11, six appear to be entitled to some form of compensation, and five are hepatitis C negative and therefore there is no compensation involved.

I was asked by Mr Quinlan, I think, about the number of people who have died. We have reviewed a large number of the death certificates so far. We will review all the death certificates. Of the death certificates we have reviewed, none of them have given hepatitis C as the cause of death. The cause of death has been a major trauma or leukaemia or something along those lines. I think it was worth clarifying that for you. We will review all of them and I will be happy, should members ask, to provide them with that information at the time.

Mr Stanhope: Could you also explain what you mean by process - the 35 cases you are processing?

MR MOORE: We are looking at it. We are going through the papers.

PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS

MR KAINE: I seek leave to make a personal explanation under standing order 46.

MR SPEAKER: Proceed.

MR KAINE: The Chief Minister a moment ago, in answer to a question, said that I was embarrassed. Let me assure the Chief Minister and the members of this Assembly that I am in no way embarrassed, but the Chief Minister ought to be because she demonstrates daily - - -

MR SPEAKER: No. We are now moving away from a personal explanation.

MR KAINE: No, we are not, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Yes, we are. It is your personal explanation, not the Chief Minister's.

Ms Carnell: Are you red because of blood pressure then?

MR KAINE: The Chief Minister ought to be embarrassed because first of all she said that senior public servants do not write reports.

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