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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 06 Hansard (Wednesday, 23 June 2004) . . Page.. 2521 ..

Pharmacy Amendment Bill 2004 is consistent with Ms Tucker’s aims, which are to be commended.

And I remind members of the telling statistic provided by Ms Dundas during last year’s debate to the effect that “for every dispensary opened in a supermarket in the United States”, which the government, I believe, is attempting to emulate, “1.3 independent pharmacies were forced to close their doors”. This is clear evidence of the negative effect that allowing supermarkets to fulfil pharmaceutical duties could have on community pharmacies and consequently on the community as a whole.

All these comments were an expression of support from my non-government colleagues for the intention of this bill—an expression of concern from my non-government colleagues about the prospect of Australia adopting a deregulated pharmacy system similar to that which operates in the United States. I was encouraged by those words of support then. I also, at that time, offered to sit down with every member of this Assembly to discuss the bill, with a view to improving it, if necessary, in order to get the best outcomes for the communities.

I was, however, not as encouraged by the government’s attitude towards the matter of pharmacies operating out of supermarkets and, sad to say, no-one from that side has ever indicated to me an interest in discussing with me any aspect of this bill. The only government comment on this bill was a press release put out yesterday by this minister—a silly, undermining, misleading press release—and yet this is just one more indication of Mr Corbell’s unwillingness to enter into constructive discussion with other members of this place in order to reach the best outcomes for the community.

It is truly a shame because the Democrats, the Greens, the Liberals and I have worked very well together in order to achieve the best goals for the community and for pharmacies. It is just unfortunate that Mr Corbell’s aloofness has resulted in not discussing his concerns with other members or indeed the person that has carriage of this bill, that is, me.

On 12 February this year, Mr Corbell, in response to a question from me regarding the establishment of pharmacies within the walls of supermarkets, stated:

This is a difficult policy issue, and not one on which this government has formed a view.

And elsewhere during the same period he has referred to it as a moot point. So he has obviously been wrestling with the problem, but never ever has he shared his concerns with me as a possible means of finding some resolution to the problems that have evidently been plaguing him.

This seeming secretiveness of Minister Corbell also characterised the lead-up period to the passing of the anti-smoking bill earlier. At that time it was a case of a last-minute involvement/interference by the minister, as has occurred this time also.

MR SPEAKER: Order! You cannot reflect on a vote of the Assembly, Mrs Cross.

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