Page 1516 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 6 June 2007
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one of those they would not fund. You cannot have it both ways. You cannot acknowledge that demand is rising and say that the hospital system is inefficient and that it has $61 million too much money in it—if you want to put it a different way, say that the balance sheet is not as strong as it should be but that we should be reducing the impost on business and looking to address areas of pressure. You just cannot have that argument. The shadow health spokesperson realises that when she says that we do not want the lowest possible price. Perhaps you should talk to the shadow Treasurer, because today he made it clear that he does want the lowest possible price in health. I move the amendment circulated in my name:
Omit all words after “That this Assembly”, substitute:
“notes:
(1) the recent report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australian Hospital Statistics 2005-06, found the ACT’s available public hospital beds increased from 679 in 2004-05 to 714 in 2005-06, an increase of 5.2% against a national decrease of 0.7%;
(2) since 2003-04, the Stanhope Government has funded an additional 147 beds in the ACT health system;
(3) this investment replaces the 114 acute care beds the previous Liberal Government removed from the ACT health system;
(4) the ACT health system is delivering record levels of elective surgery;
(5) the ACT Government continues to invest in the health system at record levels, most recently announcing an additional $12.6 million for acute care beds, whilst driving efficiencies; and
(6) the Stanhope Government’s continued commitment to improving the ACT’s already excellent health system.”.
MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (5.31): Mr Speaker, we can listen to politicians talk about the health system all day long. The government will take the view that they take that it is wonderful because they have put in an extra $300 million over the life of the government, that they have had three health ministers and that they have had numerous reforms. The opposition, of course, will quote from reports that clearly indicate that for all the money and all the reforms the system is going backwards. I think the important thing is to listen to the staff.
There is a website in the ACT called “impactednurse”. I want to read what a nurse called “Smooth” said at 3.12 pm on 2 June 2007 about the AIHW report. There are a few expletives in the text. I will take those out and replace them. She said:
no longer able to muster the energy to be …
upset—
we are now defeated.
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