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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 10 Hansard (Wednesday, 25 August 2004) . . Page.. 4176 ..

We have invested money in new paediatric facilities at the Canberra Hospital. We have put in place additional resources for public health services. For example, our public dental waiting lists are now some of the lowest in the country, following the abysmal decision by the Federal government under John Howard to remove funding for public dental services, thus leading to waiting lists of more than 36 months. Thirty-six months for restorative dental treatment! This government has kicked the can and we now have those waiting lists in our public dental services considerably reduced to an extent not previously achieved in the territory.

Of course, we continue to focus on issues around reform in the health system as well. Not only have we abolished the needless and ideologically driven purchaser provider model, but also we have established a clear and unified structure for our health department—greater accountability, greater lines of communication and the ability to ensure that Canberrans are getting the health services that they deserve.

We have established a wide range of initiatives in the area of preventative health. For example, the territory, with the support of this Assembly, will be the first territory or state in Australia to go completely smoke free in enclosed places. We have put in place additional funding for smoking prevention and Quit Smoking services. We are proposing legislation to catch those retailers that sell tobacco to minors through minor enforcement activities. We have established significant measures to improve the obesity and lifestyle issues affecting our young people, with programs in both the health and education portfolio areas to deliver better outcomes for Canberra’s young people.

Any assertion that this government is not delivering is simply a blind claim made by an opposition that is desperate to get some traction on the issues. The reality is that, after three years, all we have from the Liberal opposition and the Leader of the Opposition is a three-year whinge. But when it comes to the big issues such as health, planning and public transport, they have nothing—absolutely nothing—to present to the Canberra community.

This government has a strong record. We stand by it. We will be campaigning on it and building on it in the coming election.

MR STANHOPE (Chief Minister, Attorney-General, Minister for Environment, and Minister for Community Affairs) (5.05): Mr Corbell has summarised extremely well the motivation for this motion and the desperation that it indicates in an opposition that has been seriously floundering and found to be seriously wanting in its stewardship of that particular bench. This really is the most inept opposition ever. Motions of this order—that simply say the government has failed in everything; it is an absolute—

Mr Pratt: Look at the litany of your failure, Chief Minister.

MR STANHOPE: Just look at the motion, which reads:

This Assembly condemns the Labor Government for its failures in health, education, business, tourism, community safety, aged care, housing, family services, sport and recreation and water management.

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