Page 72 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 9 February 2010
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We have built operating theatres. We have invested money. Back in 2001, we were delivering around 6,000 procedures a year. We are almost at 10,000 procedures a year, Mr Smyth. The numbers of throughput continue to rise. We will continue to focus on this. It is an area of pressure within our system. We will do what we can. Part of it is around working with the private system to help us with the demand that we are continuing to see grow.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Hargreaves?
MR HARGREAVES: Thanks very much, Mr Speaker. Minister, in developing your strategy around improving health services, particularly tackling long waiting lists, have you considered the Liberal Party’s previous strategy of reducing hospital beds, reducing health services to prisoners and reducing health services out there in the community as a way of funding it?
MR SPEAKER: Mr Hargreaves, the question is out of order. You are asking Ms Gallagher to answer a question about Liberal Party policy, for which she is not responsible.
Mr Corbell: On a point of order, Mr Speaker, that is not the question. The question was: had the government considered those policies? It is an entirely appropriate question to ask the minister: has the government considered the policies put in place by previous governments? It is an entirely reasonable question to ask the minister whether or not the government has given consideration to policy formulations of previous governments.
Mr Hanson: If the minister were to consider the results during those times for emergency departments, for example, and elective surgery—
MR SPEAKER: Let us not debate the issue, Mr Hanson.
Mr Hanson: then I would be more than happy for her to table those in her consideration.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Hanson. We are not debating the issue. I think you make a fair point, Mr Corbell. The question stands. Ms Gallagher?
Mr Smyth: On a point of order, Mr Speaker, the original question, though, is about the Productivity Commission report. There is no mention of Liberal Party policy or other policies in the Productivity Commission report. It is quite an exact question. I think your original decision—
MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, the nature of the debate has broadened in the sense that we are now talking about the general approach to addressing waiting lists.
Mr Smyth: Mr Speaker, in your ruling, in your decision on this new technique, you said supplementaries have—
Members interjecting—
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