Page 3317 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 20 August 2008
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MR SPEAKER: Order! Cease interjecting, please.
MR SMYTH: I still remember the numbers. In October 2001, the elective surgery waiting list was 3,488. You might remember that number, Mr Speaker; you are a former health minister as well. I know you took a deep interest in this. But the problem is that the Stanhope government cut elective surgery funding. I can remember the Chief Minister’s answer in estimates: “I know it will cause some pain, but I am making tough decisions, yet again. I’m happy to cause pain as long as I can prove to people that I’m tough.” The lists over three successive health ministers blew out—they reached 5,000, and that is why people have no trust.
Ms Gallagher goes to the classic defence of Labor: “You’re blaming the staff.” We heard it yesterday with Mr Barr and the pool fiasco at Tuggeranong: “You’re blaming the tiler. I got the process wrong, and the Liberal Party are blaming the tiler.” We had the feeble defence from Ms Gallagher that somehow we are attacking the staff. Let me say again as I have said so many times in this place: I have nothing but admiration for the staff, and I feel sorry for them for the system that they work in where the minister is administering the fiasco that is health in the ACT.
Mr Stanhope: Except the ones on the confidential consultation panel.
Ms Gallagher: Yes, the secret group.
Mr Stanhope: The secret group.
Mrs Burke: Bit touchy, are we?
MR SMYTH: They are very touchy, they are very touchy.
Ms Gallagher: No, not at all. It’s hilarious.
MR SPEAKER: Order, members! Resume your seat for a minute, Mr Smyth. I know Mr Smyth is a constant interjector, but members should not take guidance from him and repeat the process when he is on his feet. Please do not interject while Mr Smyth has the floor.
MR SMYTH: Thank you, Mr Speaker. When you use the defence that we are attacking staff, it is an admission of failure: “I am throwing my hands up. I can’t fix this problem. I’m going to use the staff as a human shield.” Let me say this again: I think the staff do a great job. I have taken my young baby down there late in the night and into the early hours of the morning when there is a waiting room full of kids with croup. The staff are sympathetic; they are caring; they do a great job. But they are working in the system that you have created, minister, and it is the system that is failing the staff. The staff are not failing the people of the ACT; the staff do a great job. The doctors, the nurses, the ancillary health professionals, and all those who keep the hospital functioning do a great job. But they work in a system that you have created, and the system is failing them. That is what we seek to change. Keep people out of the hospital, if you can. Let them stay in their area where they are not in competition with existing practices. But after hours, when the majority of practices
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