Page 3143 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 24 August 2005

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Ms Gallagher’s amendment agreed to.

Question put—

That the motion, as amended, be agreed to.

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

Motion, as amended, agreed to.

Sitting suspended from 12.35 to 2.30 pm.

Ministerial arrangements

MR STANHOPE (Ginninderra—Chief Minister, Attorney-General, Minister for the Environment and Minister for Arts, Heritage and Indigenous Affairs): Mr Speaker, for the information of members, the minister for education has a pressing personal issue that she was required to attend to. She will not be available for question time this afternoon. I am happy to take questions or seek to be of assistance in relation to any question that may be asked of the minister.

Questions without notice

Canberra Hospital—psychiatric unit

MR SMYTH: My question is to the Minister for Health and it concerns the psychiatric services unit at the Canberra Hospital. Is it the case that yesterday a patient at the PSU obtained a knife and then stabbed themself? Why was this allowed to happen? Were PSU staff members put in danger at any time?

MR CORBELL: I am not aware of any such incident. I certainly will not take on face value anything that Mr Smyth says. I will take the question on notice and provide an answer as soon as possible.

MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, I have a supplementary question. The minister might like to take this on notice as well. How was it possible for a patient to obtain a stabbing weapon? Why were PSU staff members unable to prevent the stabbing?

MR CORBELL: Again, I do not take on face value any assertion Mr Smyth makes. But it is a serious one, and obviously I will look into the matter and provide further advice to the member and the Assembly.

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