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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 1 Hansard (11 December) . . Page.. 62 ..

MR STANHOPE: It is true. The smoke and mirrors you attempted to perpetrate in relation to your commitment to the funding of the Canberra Hospital were dreadful. One of the things my colleague the Treasurer will be pursuing and talking about tomorrow is the need for a code of budget honesty. The previous government's funding of the Canberra Hospital highlights more than anything else the need for some integrity and honesty around budgeting and funding issues. You funded the Canberra Hospital in the last budget for almost no increase in throughput, when you knew that on average over the last 10 years the throughput at the Canberra Hospital, and indeed at all public hospitals around Australia, increased by a minimum of 6 per cent. And you funded them for 2 per cent.

You knew that the Canberra Hospital could not survive on the budget funding you provided for them. You knew that you had deliberately underfunded them. I think you did it in anticipation of a electoral defeat by this side. Looking at some of the decisions you took, it is quite obvious that you knew you were going to lose the election. You behaved with a mindset that said you knew you were not going to win and it did not matter what you did. You deliberately underfunded the Canberra Hospital. You underfunded them by at least $6 million. That has imposed a real pressure on us in having picked up the reins and picked up your gross mismanagement, which is now becoming more and more revealed as a feature of your management of health, education and other areas of the ACT.

Mr Humphries: Is there an answer to this question or not?

MR STANHOPE: The answer to the question is-and it will be revealed today when the Treasurer-

Mr Smyth: Revealed?

MR STANHOPE: Absolutely. There is absolutely no doubt about it. I think you saw reference to it in the Canberra Times today. The Treasurer will this afternoon table an appropriation bill which I think overall provides for an increase of funding to the Canberra Hospital of $18 million. I think that is what you will see revealed in the appropriation bill this afternoon.

Mr Smyth: Over what period of time?

MR STANHOPE: This year, now, in the second appropriation bill for this year-straightaway. Available immediately will be $18 million. You just have to pass it. It is up to you now to pass it on Thursday. On Friday an additional $18 million will be available to the Canberra Hospital.

Yes, we are meeting our commitment. Yes, we are meeting our commitment to the nurses. Yes, we are providing an additional $6 million in new money to the Canberra Hospital. Yes, we are providing $6.6 million in relation to the nurses' EBA. Yes, we are providing a total of $18 million to the Canberra Hospital in the appropriation bill. Yes, we are meeting our promises at the same time as trying to clean up some of the mess you left us-and it is a significant mess you left us, particularly at the Canberra Hospital.

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