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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 4 Hansard (30 March) . . Page.. 1126 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

One of our community's most pressing needs is the need to feel assured that our health services will continue to be the best in Australia. Under this Government's guidance, the community can have that assurance. In resolving upon these new injections of funds, we are moving to firewall the health sector from the ongoing increase in demand which communities across Australia are making.

We are a caring and a clever government, and we do not let the grass grow under our feet. The $5.1m in the coming budget and the even larger increases across the forward estimates show that this Government can give the people of Canberra the assurance they seek. Sadly, Mr Quinlan cannot accept this. Perhaps it would not have occurred to the ALP that the community needs that kind of certainty.

MR SPEAKER: Excuse me, Mr Moore. Mr Wood and Ms Tucker, if you want to have a conversation, please do it outside the chamber.

Mr Stanhope: Is this rule being applied generally, Mr Speaker?

MR SPEAKER: Yes, it will be.

Mr Berry: It is a new one, is it?

MR SPEAKER: This has been going on all week. In fact, it has been going on all year, and I am tired of it. The fact is that somebody is answering a question. If you want to have a conversation, we have provided lobbies. I suggest you go out there and have your conversation.

MR MOORE: Mr Speaker, I am very pleased with the change and that we are keeping the chamber in better order. Having the Deputy Speaker calling out from outside of the chamber is something new as well. Mr Wood, you have been in the Assembly for 12 years. Doesn't time fly when you're having fun?

The real issue is that, with a shadow Treasury spokesman as confused as Mr Quinlan, the Labor Party in government would not be able to manage the ACT budget competently enough to be able to put new money into our community's future health needs. That is the critical issue.

I reiterate the offer I made to Mr Quinlan yesterday so he can avoid further mistakes. I will sit down with Mr Quinlan and Health officials and take him through the issues. I am sure Mr Humphries would do exactly same for the whole-of-government budget if you would like it. We are happy to take you through it with officials to show you where you are making your mistakes.

MR HIRD: With all this going on, I have to ask a supplementary question. In damage control, in the adjournment debate yesterday Mr Quinlan had another go. Is Mr Quinlan right in saying that we should deduct these expected needs from the gross expenditure on health, or is it similar to the $50m superannuation gap that he had to retract on Tuesday?

Mr Kaine: The answer is no. That will conclude the debate.

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