Page 2321 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 16 June 2009
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would be directly affected, and the Canberra residents that would be most directly affected, by any decisions ultimately taken are residents of north Canberra, and potentially residents of Tuggeranong, in the event that there would be noise sharing to ameliorate some of the issues that we do fear will become a reality if Tralee is developed.
But, as I have said, the ACT government’s final position in relation to a 24-hour freight hub will be determined at the end of the day by the validity of noise that is emitted by activities at the airport, and it is for that reason that we have engaged an independent noise expert to monitor noise at the airport, to either validate or otherwise an Airservices Australia noise monitoring study which is currently underway and which will be finalised, we understand, in the next month.
We have taken a position that we want to be in a position to have the evidence to be able to validate decisions taken by Airservices Australia into the noise implications of a freight hub and we need some base validated definitive data. That is the attitude we have adopted and we will not be declaring a particular position in relation to this until we have the Airservices noise monitoring study and we have information from an ACT independently engaged noise expert on that. That is our position.
Hospitals—Calvary Public Hospital and Clare Holland House
MR DOSZPOT: My question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, is the purchase of Calvary in any way contingent on the sale of Clare Holland House, and, if so, what are the details?
MS GALLAGHER: We are certainly talking with the Little Company of Mary around the ownership arrangements for Clare Holland House—it is part of the discussions—but no decision has been reached. There has not been any agreement reached. It is in the mix; it is something that we have been prepared to consider. They have been operating Clare Holland House very successfully. It is an area the sisters are very keen on pursuing further—their role in palliative care. We have been happy to include it as part of the discussions around the potential ownership and operations of Calvary Public Hospital.
I cannot give you any more information on it, because there is no more information. The negotiations have not been finalised. There are still outstanding issues that are being discussed between the parties. At the right point in time, I will be very happy to provide the Assembly with a full and comprehensive update.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Doszpot, a supplementary question?
MR DOSZPOT: Are there any proposed changes for the provision of palliative care arrangements?
MS GALLAGHER: No. The Little Company of Mary currently operate Clare Holland House for us even though we own the facility—as they operate the Calvary Public Hospital for us, but they own the facility out there. In terms of service provision for the community, regardless of who owns and operates either of the
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