Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 12 Hansard (12 November) . . Page.. 3452 ..

MR STANHOPE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have drawn attention to the significant investments we have made in education and health. We have made major investments, not just in additional funds, but in a cold hard look at the delivery of health services in the ACT. We did that through the health summit, and through the Reid review, which we have now implemented. I will be introducing legislation-probably this week-to finalise the restructuring of the health department.

We now have the capacity to deliver health services in an integrated way, something we have not had previously. Significant attention has been given to major failings in health care delivery in relation to disability services, mental health and respite care. We know about all of those matters, and we have done the things we said we would do.

The ACT now has a convalescent facility, something we have looked forward to for years. That is something the previous government was gunna do, but never got around to doing. We have now funded a medical school and the ICT Centre of Excellence. The previous government was gunna do those things but never got around to doing them. We have actually done all of these things. We have committed ourselves and fixed up a lot of mess. We have solved the nurses dispute, despite the scorn of the other side.

Mrs Dunne: Where are the oncology nurses?

MR STANHOPE: Mrs Dunne raises oncology and radiation therapy. We have repaired the enormous damage done to radiation therapy services in the ACT by the other side. Over seven years, through their lack of attention to detail, they created a situation whereby radiation therapists in the ACT became 26 per cent less well paid than their colleagues in New South Wales and Victoria. What do you think would happen if you received 26 per cent less than they are being paid across the border? You would not work here, would you?

That is what we inherited, we have now fixed that. We are now repairing the damage in our capacity to attract radiation therapists to the ACT-and we are slowly getting the wage line put back. We have fixed the mess you left us-26 per cent less; that is what we inherited from you. That is the problem that you gave us, because you were miserly and did not care.

There is so much more I could say, Mr Speaker, but I am mindful of time. Each of my colleagues is hopeful of speaking in this debate, so I will conclude there.

MS DUNDAS (4.17): The ACT Democrats welcome the opportunity to review the first year of the Stanhope Labor government, and also, more broadly, to review how the fifth Assembly has performed over the past 12 months. We will focus on two of the big issues which have faced the Assembly-the crisis in affordable housing and the ongoing debate surrounding Gungahlin Drive.

The lack of affordable housing in this city has still not been addressed. The Labor Party used many words and gave assurances of reviews, but actually made no concrete promises in this area. I guess the Assembly is able to acknowledge that the Stanhope government promised little and has delivered little-and has therefore actually kept a promise.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .