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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 13 Hansard (21 November) . . Page.. 3894 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

It was supposed to deliver efficiency through competition in the marketplace. In a jurisdiction the size of the ACT, not only is this market virtually non-existent and the goal unrealistic but purchaser/provider also plants the seeds of mistrust between parties that would ordinarily work together. Collaboration diminished as new ways of helping people were regarded as commercially sensitive information to be protected from the competition.

Most jurisdictions across the globe have turned away from the divisiveness of purchaser/provider and instead sought more collegial and innovative solutions. Gallop, Reid and others have comprehensively examined the results of this experiment and have declared it a failure.

The legislation I introduce today is part of the government's approach to repair this situation, to replace division with collaboration and to remove legislative impediments to the development of positive relationships across the health sector. If those delivering services to people are not working together, the services they provide will put barriers in the way of consumers.

The focus of the health governance review was accountability within the health portfolio and how to fix it. The governance review described and criticised the situation in which multiple agencies and multiple chief executives were all providing reports to the minister under the Health and Community Care Services Act.

Mr Reid described the situation as dysfunctional, with overlap and duplication leading to ambiguity in the management accountabilities of the various health executives. Most importantly, such a situation seriously compromises the ACT community's confidence in our health system and its capacity to manage itself.

Separate legal identity for the service has operated as a barrier across a range of portfolio matters and caused confusion around whether the territory or the service is the legal employer of staff. Continuation of a separate service appears unwieldy and awkward. On this basis, the most viable and sustainable option for organisational and legislative restructuring is delivered by this repeal bill.

The repeal bill enables the re-creation of the legislative and organisational arrangements as they existed before 1996. The new and whole ACT health entity comprises different administrative units, including Community Care and the Canberra Hospital. All administrative units will retain their corporate identity within the organisation in much the same way as ACT Housing or ACT Forests within their departments. The integrity of the Canberra Hospital is maintained.

The position of chief executive of ACT Health will have full accountability for the portfolio, including policy, planning and service provision. In reality, this arrangement has been in place since June, when the chief executive was appointed as administrator of the services.

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