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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 14 Hansard (11 December) . . Page.. 4280 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

However, the investment in IT that such a system would require has been costed by the department of health at $25 million-$25 million for the system that Mr Smyth insists we have in place by June 2004, that is, in the next budget. The next budget should contain $25 million for a new IT system for health. That is a laudable aim. For that, nothing. This investment would be spent primarily on systems.

The ACT's current health information systems aren't connected; they are not connected at all. This means that GPs cannot talk to hospitals, which cannot talk to pharmacists in an environment guaranteeing patient privacy. The investment required would be to either massively upgrade existing systems to provide an interface between them or to start again with a new common system. We have a choice. It is a wonderful idea, but, like all matters of health, it must be balanced against a range of competing priorities for health service delivery.

What can the Assembly see from these highlights? I think that this IT system is a great example. Whereabouts do you start in this shopping list? Which of these issues that has to be dealt with by June 2004-

Mr Smyth: It's your promise.

MR STANHOPE: I did not promise to deliver that by June 2004. I did not promise to find $25 million in this budget for an IT system. I did not say that I would take $25 million out of the health budget and apply it to IT. I did not say that I would take $25 million for a new IT system out of accident and emergency.

Mr Smyth: In which year are you going to do it?

MR STANHOPE: Where are you going to take it from, Mr Smyth? Are you going to take it from elective surgery? Where do you want the government to take the $25 million for IT from? Where do you want us to take it from? Do you want to take it out of elective surgery? Do you want to take it out of accident and emergency? Do you want us to close the convalescence facility? Do you want us to move the maternity section at Calvary to Canberra? What do you want us to do to find the $25 million for the IT system?

This is real bunkum; it is classic populous nonsense. The new Leader of the Opposition is trying to make a mark by putting out a policy without thinking about it, putting out a policy without costing it. The Liberal Party thinks it can actually go to the people of Canberra and say to them reasonably and responsibly, "We think that this government needs to spend another $200 million on health."

I'll tell you what: going out and telling this community that they need to find another $200 million for health will actually convince them of just how totally irresponsible you are and why you cannot be trusted with the reins of government and why they were justified in kicking you out of office 12 months ago. You are simply not to be trusted, particularly with this nonsense here. What we see from these highlights is that the Liberal Party has failed to learn anything about financial management or accountability.

The policies issued by Mr Smyth not only are unclear but also come with a massive price tag that would, essentially, bankrupt us. On the government's early indicative analysis, as I have said, and I will have these numbers confirmed, the proposals would cost us

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