Page 3660 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 21 November 2007
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saying—to keep pushing for change and keep making sure that, as an opposition, we hold the government to account when it comes to the delivery of services, and particularly at the Canberra Hospital.
I turn to the content of Ms MacDonald’s motion. It is really just a sop to try and say more of the same, because there are so many people in the government who are in denial that it is not funny. It is really concerning, though, because if they are so in denial, they are not going to pick up on the real issues that are being presented to them by emails, letters, phone calls and so forth. I think I sent another four letters to the minister today about some very serious issues in the public hospital system.
It is beyond belief that any member of this Assembly would doubt the importance of appropriate investment in the ACT health system. Who has ever questioned appropriate investment? It goes without saying, surely, that the taxpayers of the ACT would want this. But do you know what the sad thing is? Many are now left wondering when this government will actually start to use their taxes more appropriately.
Investment means more than money. It means dedication, education, commitment, and a host of other things. Despite the Stanhope government throwing more money into the health system now—and they like to brag about this—than at any time since self-government, we still have major problems at Canberra Hospital. Ms MacDonald says, “There will always be problems in the public hospital system.” I agree, but how many are we going to continue to allow without really taking notice of the essence of the problems that are there and addressing the systemic issues, as have been identified—although only in one case, as it transpires today—by the Chief Minister himself? It is not about beds; it is not about money; it is about systemic issues. We must focus on addressing major problems. It is critical to the success of the health system as a whole. If we do not, and if I do not keep raising them in this place and bringing into question the capacity of the current health minister, I would be failing in my job.
We have talked about the budget, so let us talk about that. Ms MacDonald mentioned the health budget. The minister has a budget of around $800 million to distribute but she still cannot get systems at our public hospitals to work, in order to address issues such as waiting lists for elective surgery, to the satisfaction of the community—not just improving it a little, but to the satisfaction of the community. I refer also to outcomes in the emergency department, and a fair and equitable use of visiting specialists, such as those that work in the oral and maxillofacial and plastic reconstructive area. I have been slammed in this place for pushing and pushing to try and get that established, after six years. The government wants to say, “It’s 20 years, it’s 10 years, it’s 90 years.” It is ridiculous. We have had six years of the Stanhope government, three health ministers, two reports identifying serious problems within oral and maxillofacial surgery, and still there is nothing.
I get accused, lambasted and pilloried. “Why are you sticking your nose in?” says Ms Gallagher. If I do not keep the pressure on, are we going to see an outcome this side of our next election, in October 2008? I do not think so. I am jolly glad I have interfered, and I would do it again. I will keep doing it until I know that we are seeing
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