Page 4077 - Week 13 - Thursday, 6 December 2007
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I have tabled this report today to respond in a responsible but in a public way to the numerous, almost daily, raising of allegations of adverse outcomes in relation to OMFS at our public hospitals. These allegations were raised primarily by Mrs Burke—but also by other members of the opposition—in a very public way via media conferences, media releases, media interviews and also repeatedly in this place.
Mr Stanhope: And they were all false.
MS GALLAGHER: The repeated view of the opposition, despite requests—
Mr Smyth: So the patients are false; we made the patients up.
Mr Stanhope: Have you read the report?
Mr Smyth: Have you seen the patients?
Mr Stanhope: Have you read the report—defamatory, disgraceful, shameful.
MADAM TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs Dunne): Order! Mr Stanhope, Mr Smyth!
Mr Smyth: So they made it up; they made it up?
MADAM TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Mr Stanhope, Mr Smyth!
Mr Stanhope: Are you going to apologise?
Mr Smyth: Will you apologise to the patients?
MS GALLAGHER: The repeated view of the opposition—
Mr Stanhope: Are you getting rid of Mrs Burke now, Bill? Are you going to do the right thing.
Members interjecting—
MADAM TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Mr Stanhope and Mr Smyth will cease interjecting.
MS GALLAGHER: Thank you, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker. The repeated view of the opposition, despite repeated requests by me and the acting minister for health at the time not to, was that the services that TCH were delivering were less than optimal patient outcomes, projecting a very public view that something was wrong. This report addresses that view and rejects it.
I believe that questions need now to be asked about the conduct of the shadow minister for health over her involvement and her conduct in this matter. She needs to take responsibility for her behaviour. She should apologise, and if she is unwilling to
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