Page 1639 - Week 05 - Thursday, 8 May 2008
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Firstly, while the government has declined to put money into the pockets of all ACT residents, it has provided a welcome initiative to ease the financial burden on elderly residents looking to move into a smaller home. I have been aware of this issue for some time. Many elderly people, whose children have grown up and moved out of home, do not necessarily need large family homes. The upkeep of the home and gardens, perhaps once a source of joy, may in fact become a burden. This initiative will help make the transition to smaller, more suitable accommodation more financially attractive.
I have publicly welcomed this measure and believe that it is something that a good number of older people may well take up. This will not only help them but also will free up larger housing for other residents potentially to move into, particularly younger people who have got growing families.
There are other measures that I welcome. The additional spending in health, for example, is very good news for the people of Canberra. I accept and suspect that most members of the Assembly would agree that health should be a core priority of the ACT government. Back in February I welcomed the government’s plan to create long-term improvements within the health system.
Whilst I do not believe we are there yet by any means, I do believe that much of the expenditure announced in this budget will certainly improve the capability of the ACT health system to meet the needs of the people of Canberra. It is probably one of the most crucial issues in our community. It is an issue of concern to families; it is an issue of concern to older members of our community; and it is one that deserves a strong level of focus in any territory budget.
Similarly, though, in the context of health, I highlight the importance of good management. There have been, and continue to be, significant issues with the management of Canberra’s hospitals and health system. Waiting times in emergency and for elective surgery are, according to the most recently published and available figures, the worst in the country. I am hoping that the minister will be able to report to us radical improvements in that performance when those figures are next published.
Simply throwing money at the health system does not in itself lead to efficiency. I think there has been a tendency by the minister to answer all criticisms by quoting expenditure figures.
In addition to funding commitments, the government must also ensure that management procedures and administration operate efficiently to provide the framework to allow medical professionals to do their jobs, because the people of Canberra need to feel confident that they can present at a hospital and receive quality care in a timely manner.
I also recognise the investment that this budget makes to address skill shortages. This is an issue that is confronting all of Australia. As I have said before, to compete with other jurisdictions, the ACT needs to be innovative and intelligent in the way we target workers to fill shortages in specific areas. We do not have the visibility of the
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