Page 2346 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 23 June 2010

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The final option was to encourage or request the Auditor-General to consider the matter. My office has spoken with Ms Pham several times today and can confirm that the Auditor-General is keen to revisit those matters and concerns identified through the 2005 review. The matter of elective surgery was already on a list of topics the Auditor-General had identified as a possible investigation. However, there were other topics above it. The Auditor-General said she was willing to reconsider how she has prioritised the list and appreciates the growing attention that elective surgery is receiving.

Thus, after considering these options, I believe it is most appropriate that the method of investigation regarding the downgrading of categories be the Auditor-General’s Office, if she wishes to do so, and that she incorporate that into a larger, systemic review, as she was keen to pursue. I should also mention that my office spoke with the Health Care Consumers Association of the ACT. They were keen to see any of the stronger methods of investigation pursued by those which were available today. For that reason, the Greens saw weight in pursuing independent methods of investigation by bodies well trusted by consumers and the public.

Question put:

That Ms Gallagher’s amendment be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Ayes 6

Noes 9

Mr Barr

Mr Stanhope

Ms Bresnan

Ms Le Couteur

Ms Burch

Mr Doszpot

Mr Rattenbury

Ms Gallagher

Mrs Dunne

Mr Seselja

Mr Hargreaves

Mr Hanson

Mr Smyth

Ms Porter

Ms Hunter

Question so resolved in the negative.

MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (8.47), by leave: I move the amendment circulated in my name:

Omit all words after “17 June 2010 shows that” in paragraph (1)(a), substitute:

“the ACT has the:

(i) longest median elective surgery waiting times in Australia; and

(ii) second highest level of admission per 1000 people in the population and the least number of reporting hospitals;

(b) the report shows that since the previous report was released in 2009:

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