Page 2419 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 17 June 2009
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something to say and (2) the agreement of the other party in negotiations to make that information public. However, it is impossible now to determine when that would have been because the information became public prior to either of those events occurring. Because of the opposition’s complete inability to understand simple concepts or to accept in any way the truth from me on this matter, or indeed from Mr Brennan, the chair of Little Company of Mary—and I provided to the estimates inquiry information from Mr Brennan that he had asked me, on behalf of the government, to keep negotiations confidential whilst they worked through their own processes—
Mr Hanson: A letter I received late at night from one of your—
MS GALLAGHER: Be careful, Mr Hanson; you are probably subject to some legal proceedings already. Are you now going to start slandering Little Company of Mary as well? Little Company of Mary have made it clear, and indeed in their meeting with you, back on 21 April, they indicated that they would keep you updated on matters as they proceeded. I do not know whether that has been happening. It is your job as opposition health spokesperson; I am sure you have been having regular updates from Little Company of Mary. It is actually your job to do that, and I am sure you have been, as you are so interested in this. Mr Hanson, have you been meeting regularly with Little Company of Mary?
Mr Hanson: We have met; indeed we have met.
MS GALLAGHER: Right; other than the first time, when this became a matter in the Canberra Times? I doubt it very much, because what we see from the opposition is laziness. They want the government to do their work for them, and what they are trying to do here is to create some conspiracy theory around the government negotiating in good faith with a very reputable health provider around the possibility that the ACT community could actually acquire an asset that it does not currently own and that we could invest in that asset in a way that does not cripple our budget. I think that is a pretty strong position to be coming from.
The Liberal opposition keep saying, “We can’t have a view on this because we don’t have all the details.” Well, the details are that we think it is in this community’s long-term interests for the ACT government and the ACT community to own and operate both of their public health authorities.
Mr Seselja: That is the detail: “Trust me.” That’s the detail for us, Katy; thanks!
MS GALLAGHER: Here it is in simple concepts for you, Mr Seselja. Here it is in simple concepts.
Mr Seselja: Is that the detail?
MS GALLAGHER: Here it is in simple concepts for you to understand. Here it is for you to understand.
Mr Hanson: Let me remind you of Mr Stanhope’s words.
MR SPEAKER: Order, Mr Hanson!
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