Page 2708 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 23 June 2009
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Submissions to the inquiry just this past month reiterated the need for a primary school at Tharwa, yet—despite valid arguments, arguments backed up by the Australian Education Union and the ACT Council of Parents and Citizens Associations, who all recognise the value to communities such as Tharwa and Hall where the schools were a vital part of the community—this is not a consideration of or of concern to this government. They will happily sit on their hands and defend their decision to close this school until the end of time.
In terms of road and transport infrastructure in the outer suburbs of Tuggeranong, we have been waiting for a long time for the duplication of Tharwa Drive and Athllon Drive. These announcements were re-announced over successive budgets, dressed up as new announcements to keep the community guessing. We can also go to Tharwa and look at the complete debacle that was the refurbishment of Tharwa bidge, a vital piece of infrastructure that was integral to the safe passage of residents of Tharwa into town—again mismanaged by this government. Whilst there are a number of buses that travel the intertown route between the city and Tuggeranong, there is still such a gap in the suburban services that we see many commuters from the outer suburbs choosing to take the car, which results in a massive traffic backlog up the Monaro Highway most mornings and evenings at peak hour.
In health we know that there is a gap in the provision of GP services in Canberra. There is still a growing gap in the availability of health services in the deep south of Tuggeranong—a gap sufficient for it to be an issue for the many young families and older Australians who make their home in these suburbs.
The community of Tuggeranong, already suffering from a chronic shortage of GPs, received a cruel blow when, in 2008, the Wanniassa medical centre was suddenly closed and the Tuggeranong Valley lost another eight much-needed doctors. The decision by the existing provider in relocating its business to Phillip and out of the valley showed no consideration for the welfare and wellbeing of the surrounding community. The Wanniassa medical centre had been there for 20 years. It had regular patients who had connections and relationships with their own GPs. The Tuggeranong region needs more doctors. The loss of the Wanniassa medical centre was devastating for our community.
What was the government response? The closure of the Wanniassa medical centre was referred to the standing committee on health for immediate inquiry with a request that it report back to the Assembly by 26 August 2008. The committee resolved to consider the circumstances of the closure, the impact on the residents of the Tuggeranong Valley, the nature of the ACT government’s relationship with privately owned general practice in the ACT and possible options for the future delivery of GP services in the ACT. That committee’s membership was Ms Porter, deputy chair; Ms Karin MacDonald, another government MLA, the chair; and Mrs Jacqui Burke, from the opposition.
The Standing Committee on Health and Disability duly carried out the inquiry into the closure of the Wanniassa medical centre in August 2008. That report was presented to the Stanhope government in August 2008. It took over six months into the term of the
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