Page 3384 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 19 August 2009
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regard to what information will be made to family and close associates of anyone who has contracted swine flu, particularly those that die from it, given the context of the sister who has a similar underlying medical condition to the father and who was then turned away from a hospital.
Secondly, I think the opportunity existed on the official record of this place, the Hansard, to place an unreserved apology. I think all members would support the minister in making that. It certainly does not come at, I believe, a cost to the minister but the closure that it would bring the family, I suspect, would be substantial. I think the effect of boosting the confidence of people in the reforms that the minister might undertake would certainly be enhanced by the fact that she had taken this step to give the correct level of closure to a family who is obviously suffering.
The fact that the family then turned from the ACT department and sought help from the New South Wales health department shows the depths of some of their pain. The fact that they have issued the three-page statement outlining their concerns and making that publicly available shows that there is concern (1), for the way that their family has been treated but (2), that what they have done is—to finish on what can only be seen as a positive note—outline the number of things that they think, given what they have gone through, their experience, could be undertaken by the emergency departments and by ACT Health to ensure that (1), we ameliorate the impact of swine flu and (2), we ameliorate the impact particularly on families who suffer the loss of a loved one or indeed who have a loved one who is infected by the swine flu. I think they are very simple requests.
For the sake of clarity—if the minister would like to speak again, we would be quite happy to give her the leave—firstly, she could outline exactly what the information flow will be. To go from so much information to no detail being released is a concern. Secondly, she could simply take the opportunity to put out an unreserved public apology. The other problem for the family clearly must be: if you thought that there was a public apology on the ABC and you stumbled on it by accident, I can understand that you would be upset. But then I think to find out now that it actually was not an unreserved public apology but it was just a reiteration of the existing apology, which a family had felt to be inadequate to their needs, would again only lead to the distress of the family.
The opportunity is here. It is offered in good faith. It is about giving a family that has lost a loved one some closure. It is a very simple process to stand and apologise. It is a very simple process to stand and offer some additional information. I hope the minister takes the opportunity.
MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Treasurer, Minister for Health, Minister for Community Services and Minister for Women) (4.43), by leave: In addition to the comments that I have already made in this debate earlier today, I stand here on behalf of the government and unreservedly apologise to the family for any distress that has been caused to them through the handling of their loved one’s death and, in particular, public statements that have been made by me or through ACT Health in relation to that. I want to make it clear that I have not confirmed the cause of death in any individual. It is not my role to do that; it is the role of the coroner. I would leave that to them.
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