Page 5094 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 17 November 2009
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MR HANSON: Minister, how will the sale of Clare Holland House improve the provision of palliative care services in the ACT?
MS GALLAGHER: The palliative care services in the ACT will continue to be 100 per cent funded by the ACT government for public palliative care services. There will be some growth in palliative care services over the future, particularly in the lead-up to the health tsunami as it emerges in this city.
The argument around it is essentially that we would have the largest palliative care provider in the country consolidating and having security around their role in palliative care services in the ACT. The argument that the Little Company of Mary will put to you, and I am sure they have, is that ownership gives them the security to continue to invest, where a service agreement which is up for negotiation does not give them that security.
They want to come here and invest additional resources over and above the public contract into palliative care in the ACT. We think that is a good thing. We think they have been a good provider of palliative care services. We think there need to be some caveats on their role or their ownership around Clare Holland House. I continue to negotiate that with them, as do other members in this place who have not completely shut off the idea of this significant change to the role of public health and palliative care in the ACT.
I will continue to look at everything I can do to address the concerns of those who are genuinely concerned about the future of palliative care in the ACT, but I believe that all of their issues can be addressed. I look forward to continuing our very long and proud relationship with the Little Company of Mary in palliative care services in the ACT.
MR SPEAKER: Ms Porter, a supplementary question?
MS PORTER: Minister, in relation to the proposal, can you provide details of what will change at Clare Holland House should the sale go ahead?
MS GALLAGHER: Essentially and importantly for the consumers who are using the service, nothing will change. The proposal, as it stands, is really around ownership of a lease which, along with that, gives ownership of a building. The contract that the ACT government has with Little Company of Mary continues. It has outputs which are required for the level of expenditure tied up in that contract. Essentially there will be no change.
I am currently working through industrial issues with the staff at Clare Holland House. I met with them this morning and I continue to have a number of meetings with anyone who wants to meet with me.
I am meeting the archbishop this afternoon as well, just to smooth out some of those concerns that he has dealing with an anti-Christian government. We certainly do not think that is the case. We need to respond to some of the issues that have come up through the consultation period in relation to some concerns that he has raised.
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