Page 5323 - Week 14 - Thursday, 19 November 2009
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because it was very early on in the capital asset development plan—as to whether I can table some further information that will assist you.
Essentially, whilst it is something that the government has looked at as part of how we manage the rebuild of a north-side hospital, it had to be one of those issues the government considered. It is largely around the economic argument—the financing of what is going to be required on the north side, regardless of who owns or operates the Calvary Public Hospital.
The Treasury advice is very clear on that. It supports the buy option. Certainly from a budgetary point of view, that is the best way forward.
Mr Hanson: But from a cash point of view.
MS GALLAGHER: From a budgetary point of view—I am interested again to hear the interjections from the opposition: they are now only interested in the cash performance of the ACT budget; they are no longer worried about the operating impact or indeed the balance sheet impact of any government decision.
For all of us here, with estimates next year, just worry about the cash. Don’t worry about anything else. The opposition do not care about anything else. They will only look at the cash component. They will not look at the big picture.
Governments need to lead. They need to lead on issues like this. They need to have these discussions, however hard they are for the community. The opposition for opposition’s sake that we have seen for the past 12 months is obviously going to continue—an opposition without the courage to have these very difficult and controversial debates, debates that, once resolved, will be in the best interests of the community in the long run.
MR SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Hanson?
MR HANSON: Yes, Mr Speaker. Minister, will you confirm that you have categorically ruled out building a third hospital in Canberra?
MS GALLAGHER: What I have said at a number of public forums and, indeed, in this place is that I think it would be the worst outcome out of this. I do not see any government in the near future being able to support the building of a third hospital. To do so would be the end of Calvary Public Hospital. That is not something that this government supports.
However, as our community grows and as our needs change, there may in the future need to be a third hospital. But at this point in time, it would be the worst outcome and it is not something that the government is actively pursuing. But as the government considers the future of our health system, it would be wrong of us not to look at all the options that present themselves.
That is what governments do. I know oppositions can support whatever is popular in the paper—in the Canberra Times—on any day of the week. But governments need to look at the big picture, examine all the options, and then in this case go forward with a
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