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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 8 Hansard (25 August) . . Page.. 2448 ..

MR OSBORNE (6.29): Mr Speaker, I had a meeting with the Hospice and Palliative Care Society either late last week or early this week, and I indicated to them my problems with the proposed Lake Ginninderra site for my constituency. It is all very well for the Minister, who lives in the middle of town, to say, "It is not too far. Go to Glenloch Interchange and you are nearly there". I happen to recall driving to Bruce Stadium in my life past. It is not a short distance. It is not central. My concern in this whole debate is that this facility should be as central as possible so that it can be accessed by the whole community.

Mr Kaine: Do you want to move the stadium to Northbourne Avenue?

MR OSBORNE: That is why I wanted to move the stadium to Northbourne Oval. That is why I indicated to Mr Stanhope that I would be happy to support some sort of motion which was in line with that. Having read the motion, I must admit that I do not particularly want to be involved in supporting 1(a) or 1(b). I think there is enough confusion over whose fault it is to warrant us not supporting them.

Ms Carnell: There is no confusion.

MR OSBORNE: The Chief Minister says there is no confusion. Even 1(c) is a bit grey. I know that the Health Minister has spoken to me a number of times about the potential site - - -

Mr Moore: And Sister Berenice many times.

MR OSBORNE: You keep dropping that one in, Mr Moore. I know he has had meetings with different parties. The point I want to make in this debate is that the hospice society and I felt displeasure at what we felt was the Government's preferred option. In the last day or two, further sites have come up at Griffith and Garran. I understand that Griffith is starting to firm up as the favourite. I will vote against subparagraphs (a),(b) and (c) of the motion.

Mr Moore: And I will commit myself to doing the proper consultation.

Mr Smyth: Continuing the proper consultation.

Mr Moore: Continuing, because I have already done it.

MR OSBORNE: We were dissatisfied and we would like some more work to be done on it, but I must concede that the Health Minister has certainly provided me with a lot of information about it. He has acted very swiftly in the last couple of days. I see Mr Stanhope acknowledge that with a nod. I think it is really lineball whether we should support the motion. Perhaps Mr Stanhope, in his summing-up, can convince me why I should support it.

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