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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 10 Hansard (13 October) . . Page.. 3107 ..

MR HUMPHRIES: In that case, Mr Speaker, you would be happy to support the view that a question asked by Mr Corbell which carried an imputation should also face the consequence of having to be apologised for in this place.

MS TUCKER (5.16): Mr Speaker, I will not be drawn into a response at this point because I want to look at exactly what was said last night as well as the lead-in by the journalist and the general impression that was given. I am quite willing to apologise if I am incorrect, but I am certainly not going to do it at this point because I want to look at the whole transcript, not just what Mr Smyth said.

Ms Carnell: That was the whole transcript.

MS TUCKER: No, I am also interested in what the lead-in was and whether you actually made sure people understood.

MR MOORE (Minister for Health and Community Care) (5.17): While we are on the issue of the media, I would like to share with members an incident that occurred today. I do not know if members are aware that one of the television cameramen that we deal with very regularly, Mr Andrew Parsons, who works with Prime Television, is leaving his career as a television cameraman to work on ambulances.

I was being interviewed today at the Griffin Centre and he was working the camera. We were on the first floor of the Griffin Centre when we looked out and saw that somebody had collapsed across the street. It turns out that the person had overdosed. Mr Parsons dropped his camera - I should say he put his camera down carefully - grabbed his first aid kit and raced to the man's assistance. At the same time I called an ambulance. I think that is a reflection of Mr Parson's willingness to contribute to society. That particular incident reflects his attitude. It is something to be commended, as are the people who work on ambulances day in, day out. That demonstration today is a reflection of the sort of person he is and the sort of person that we have in the ambulance service.

Before he leaves these precincts, I would like to take this opportunity to put on record our appreciation of that sort of attitude and the contribution that people in the ambulance service make to saving lives. There will be a debate in this Assembly about the broader issue of how we deal with people who use drugs, but I do not want to get into that now. That is not the point. The point is that here was somebody who had collapsed, and an ordinary citizen who is looking forward to this kind of work - and who has some experience in working on ambulances in the United Kingdom, I understand - was willing to see the priorities at the time and rush down and assist in saving somebody's life. It was a great thing to see. It is worth while reminding ourselves that fantastic things go on in our society all the time, and it is worth while occasionally giving recognition when we see them. I hope when members see Andy they will give him a pat on the back for that particular incident.

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