Page 140 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 10 February 2010
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eight years of mismanagement, what we see across all of our portfolio areas is a city in decline.
I turn specifically to health, which is obviously a great area of concern for the Canberra community. When we look at some of the key performance indicators in comparison both to other states and to when the Liberals were last in power, we can see a decline across the board.
When we come to elective surgery, in 2007 and 2008 the ACT had the longest median waiting times for elective surgery in the entire nation. This indicator is measured by the number of days patients at the 50th percentile have waited for surgery. When Jon Stanhope said that he is talking about taking the first people off the list, who have waited the least amount of time, we are talking about people at the 50th percentile.
The ACT’s result was the worst in the nation by a long way. Indeed, there was a 72-day wait for elective surgery. The average across the rest of the nation was 34 days. The ACT figure is twice as bad as the national average, Mr Speaker. That is a performance indicator that Mr Stanhope wants to defend.
Mr Rattenbury: Point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Would you resume your seat, Mr Hanson.
Mr Rattenbury: I invite Mr Hanson to recognise the change in the chair. Whilst he is reading his speech, he might acknowledge the change in the membership of the chair.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Will you do that, please, Mr Hanson?
MR HANSON: Certainly, Madam Deputy Speaker. I do get confused sometimes as to what role the Speaker is taking—whether he is the spokesperson or the Speaker. Sometimes I do get somewhat confused. I apologise to you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for my grievous error, and I thank the spokesman for the Greens for pointing that error out.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Hanson. I am sure that the Speaker will be able to provide you with a briefing on how to address the chair.
MR HANSON: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I certainly apologise. I did not realise I had offended his sensibilities to such a degree. Madam Deputy Speaker, it is good to see that the Greens are struggling with the big issues of state here in the ACT.
Mr Coe: The future of the territory is in safe hands with this Assembly.
MR HANSON: Yes. If you want to interject again—you do criticise my interjections, Mr Rattenbury, whilst you are sitting in the chair.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, one of the protocols is that you actually address me and not—
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