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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 9 Hansard (31 August) . . Page.. 2574 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

This Assembly - and I have received a number of interjections about how it is the Assembly and not this side or that that makes some of these requests - has asked the Minister to identify other sites. This Assembly has asked the Minister to have discussions with the Hospice and Palliative Care Society, with the hospice and with the Commonwealth Government, if required or if deemed appropriate, and to identify a range of other possible sites for a hospice. We look forward to that process being instituted by - - -

Mr Moore: That is another error, Jon.

MR STANHOPE: The Minister tells me that is an error. I understood this Assembly passed a motion requiring the Government to negotiate with the Commonwealth, if necessary - an amendment moved by Ms Tucker - and also with the Hospice and Palliative Care Society, with the view to identifying other possible sites for a hospice. I think the wording is quite clear and unambiguous, and the Assembly looks forward to Mr Moore initiating those discussions, with a view to the full range of possible centrally located sites being identified so that an assessment of those additional sites might be undertaken. In that regard I notice that - - -

Mr Moore: That was Griffith.

MR STANHOPE: No, the motion was passed after Griffith had been identified. The motion is quite clear and unambiguous. It concerns me that the Minister thinks it is not. The Minister thinks that this Assembly does not require him to go off and negotiate to identify a range of other sites. The motion is quite clear and unequivocal about that. In the context of that clear and unequivocal request from the Assembly, it is probably relevant that the Manuka LAPAC has identified as possible other sites for consideration Grevillea Park and Lennox Gardens. They are two other sites that should now be assessed. I am hoping that through the consultation process this Assembly has asked the Minister to undertake we can identify perhaps another half-dozen or so centrally located sites, hopefully with lake views.

Whilst we applaud and welcome the fact that the Government has identified these additional moneys, we do look forward to the process for identifying an appropriate replacement site continuing. In that regard, it is appropriate that we say that the adhockery that has attended the identification of sites for the hospice should be avoided. That we can just pick Griffith oval out of a hat and assume that that is an appropriate process for the identification of a site for such a significant facility as a hospice really does concern me. I am looking forward to a detailed inquiry, and I would hope that the Government, in its consultation with the hospice society and the hospice, does involve the Commonwealth; that it does sit down with the NCA and perhaps PALM; and that they do the job thoroughly so that we do not have to come back here with an additional relocation study and then go out and get one after that.

Mr Moore: That is okay. We will just go into the Canberra Hospital for a year or so.

MR STANHOPE: As long as we end up with the best possible result. Sister Berenice and the hospice society would not mind a temporary stay in Canberra Hospital. There is no doubt about that.

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