Page 489 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 23 February 2010
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Mr Hanson: We spend more than any other jurisdiction per capita and our costs are increasing at a greater rate than any other jurisdiction—
MS GALLAGHER: When Mr Hanson’s party was—
Mr Hanson: at 11.1 per cent.
MS GALLAGHER: Mr Speaker, Mr Hanson has consistently and constantly interjected every time I have been asked a question. I am the target, as usual, of the question time bonanza from the opposition, and I have no problem with that. In fact, on the rare—
Mr Hanson: You’re the Treasurer, you’re the Deputy Chief Minister and you’re the health minister.
MR SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Coe: So we shouldn’t scrutinise the government?
MR SPEAKER: Mr Coe!
MS GALLAGHER: In fact, on the rare occasions that the opposition stray to other ministers, I actually feel a little left out. So I have no problem with answering the questions at all; it is like being hit with a piece of wet lettuce. But I would like the opportunity to answer the question without being shouted at across the chamber, because then it requires me to shout, Mr Speaker, and I like to try and keep a fairly calm persona in this chamber. But that is almost impossible when those clowns opposite continue to behave like this.
Mr Smyth: It’s a good answer. You’ve wasted half the time.
MS GALLAGHER: Indeed. I have taken over a minute to explain this because I think it needs to sit in the Hansard forever that this group of opposition members behave like children in question time every single time that we sit.
In relation to the health system, I welcome the opportunity to talk about how well our health system is performing because, again, those opposite seem to get some bizarre thrill out of a scare campaign about how poor the health system is here in the ACT. I think it is a favourite one of Mr Hanson’s misleads, or let us say flexible truths, that we have the worst health outcomes in the country.
Mr Smyth: On a point of order, Mr Speaker, if Mr Hanson has misled then the minister is obliged to, if she so chooses, move a censure motion. But she just can’t say he misled—
MR SPEAKER: We discussed this this morning, Mr Smyth, in your absence.
Mr Smyth: Yes, I understand you did, and she should withdraw it.
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