Page 3062 - Week 08 - Thursday, 25 June 2009
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The theme really is that there is a lot more detail to examine. We are spending a lot of money. Some of it is welcomed. Some of it we feel is not well targeted. There is some detail missing. There is a bit of wait and see here in terms of how some of that money will be rolled out for e-health and other programs and there is some wait and see in terms of how the cuts will be made and how they will be put forward. In the 20 seconds I have left I would again, as I did the other day when we were talking about swine flu, commend our health administrative personnel, front-line doctors and nurses and so on for the work they are doing. Regardless of the difference of opinion across the floor, I am sure we all—and the Greens as well—welcome the work that they are doing.
MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (8.49): In debating the health budget today for any and all of its imperfections, the Greens recognise that the ACT population enjoy levels of health and wellbeing that are amongst the best in the country and probably amongst the best in the world. We are privileged to live in a society that enjoys high education levels, high rates of employment and income, and low mortality rates.
The healthcare services provided by the ACT and Australian governments are reflective of the society in which we live and for that we must be thankful. But things do change with time and if we are to continue to enjoy high standards of health we must be prepared to respond to the challenges before us. For example, with high life expectancies come high rates of chronic disease, and with increased technological capabilities come high costs. It is true that the demand on the health budget is growing rapidly and cannot be sustained nor met in full.
Appreciating that it is not possible for the government to be the fountain of all wisdom, I hope that in responding to the future challenges of ageing, chronic disease and staff shortages the ACT Government is willing to work with the variety of expert bodies that can provide a diverse range of remedies and solutions.
This budget has invested significantly in the bricks and mortar of healthcare and the technological infrastructure to develop and maintain a high-quality, responsive acute sector. However, to see the best of acute infrastructure within a resource-stretched system, the Greens believe more resources are needed to maintain wellness to reduce the need to access these acute services. We must also remember that investment in healthcare services does not just require investment in machines and buildings; it also requires investment in people, both consumers and staff. For example, providing enough funding so that healthcare staff can provide adequate one on one time to a consumer can be incredibly productive. And, if this one on one time comes early enough in the picture, we can prevent a disease or illness from turning into an acute episode that would be more costly.
Given staff shortages, we can also do more to make sure we retain our staff. The negotiation of workplace agreements for our doctors and nurses is a difficult task but the government may have room for improvement. A common thread in discussions I have had with professional healthcare staff associations is not wage increases specifically but the desire to be respected and have their needs understood. Issues that have been raised with me specifically include allowing some doctors to choose their
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