Page 4426 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 14 October 2009
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party room, and part of your strategy is to delay and to get someone else to do the work that, as an opposition, you should be doing.
Mr Hanson: Independent analysis isn’t a good idea? Independent scrutiny?
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, you have had your time.
MS GALLAGHER: I should explain that decision making on matters of public policy and matters of legislation rests with this place. This is the decision maker. It is for members of this place, 17 members, to come up with and work together on what they think is the best way forward on management of the public health system in the ACT. There is a consultation process underway. We have released a discussion paper.
Mr Hanson: It’s a sham.
MS GALLAGHER: Okay, so you have failed the discussion paper; you do not believe that the financial analysis is fair and the consultation is a sham. What an excellent contribution from the opposition! They are ridiculing anything that is put forward in the genuine interest of eliciting community views. This is what we expect from the opposition—no buy-in, no interest, no constructive contribution.
Mr Hanson: We’re trying to buy in.
MS GALLAGHER: No, what you are trying to do is to get the Auditor-General to do your job. Well, she is not here to do your job. You are here to do your job, and you are elected to do your job. If you have problems with the financial analysis by Treasury then you work out what that is and come and tell us. Bring it to us. Make it clear what your argument is. Do you agree on ownership and governance? That is what this is about. The opposition are trying to extend it into a whole range of areas when the critical decision for this place is around the ownership and governance of the public health system in the ACT.
That is the question that is before the Assembly, and it is not a question that can be resolved by the Auditor-General. I would encourage the opposition to get involved in the community consultation process. I met with Mr Hanson to discuss this, and we have got other meetings coming up, and I told him, “I will make available anyone you want me to make available to discuss.”
Mr Hanson: The Auditor-General, thanks.
MS GALLAGHER: I can’t direct the Auditor-General.
Mr Hanson: Yes, you can, by supporting the motion.
MS GALLAGHER: I cannot direct the Auditor-General. In fact, it goes against—
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Ms Gallagher, resume your seat for a moment. Mr Hanson, I am going to warn you next time. You have had your say; you have had your opportunity. Now the floor is Ms Gallagher’s. Please be quiet.
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