Page 3343 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 17 August 2010
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Despite all of this, four days after this report was tabled—we have quoted from it, and I assure you that there are a lot more quotes about the fact that complaints were made and that they were ignored—the minister came out and said on WIN News, “You can’t investigate allegations that don’t exist.” Four days after that report was tabled, four days after the evidence that says that there were complaints and that they were systemically ignored by management, she came out on WIN News and said, “You can’t investigate allegations that don’t exist.” That was her excuse for her disgraceful behaviour in relation to this whole inquiry. She is still accusing the doctors and the midwives of being at fault, when it is actually her management and her administration that ignored the complaints systemically over a number of years. And that has been found in this independent report.
If you think that the minister has got an appalling disregard for people, you have also got to look at her appalling disregard for the Treasury and the finances of this town. If Katy Gallagher had her way, we would be $77 million worse off. A lot has been said about the Calvary deal; there are a lot of opinions. But right up front let us make it crystal clear that if Katy Gallagher had had her way on the time line that she wanted, she would have wasted $77 million of taxpayers’ money. That is beyond dispute—absolutely beyond dispute. We would have spent $77 million on something we did not need to spend a cent on.
Katy Gallagher started this secretive process in August 2008. She said that all her plans were on the table before the last election. That was another lie. She said that they were on the table. She refused—
Mr Stanhope: On a point of order—
MR HANSON: Stop the clocks, please.
Mr Stanhope: On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Stop the clock, thank you. Mr Stanhope.
Mr Stanhope: Madam Deputy Speaker, it is completely unparliamentary and unacceptable for Mr Hanson to be alleging that the minister lied. There is a no-confidence motion. The no-confidence motion at no stage goes to issues around Ms Gallagher’s honesty or integrity. It is simply unparliamentary. Allegations of lying or of deceit are unparliamentary and must be withdrawn.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, will you withdraw, please?
MR HANSON: I will withdraw, because there is so much information here that I am quite happy to withdraw and move on.
Mr Stanhope: On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker, the allegations must be withdrawn unconditionally.
MR HANSON: I did say that I withdraw.
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