Page 40 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 15 February 2011
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MS HUNTER: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Hunter.
MS HUNTER: Minister, has the government mapped out how peak oil would impact on cost of living issues in Canberra, particularly for those Canberrans living in outer suburbs who will be vulnerable to a combination of higher fuel prices and mortgage debt? Many of these people do live in the electorate of Ginninderra.
MR STANHOPE: I do not believe we have done modelling, to the extent of determining the impact on people who live in Tuggeranong or Gungahlin, of shifts in the price of peak oil and issues relating to peak oil. But certainly we are very aware of the cost of living implications of increases in the price of all utilities, most particularly, and indeed of all staples such as fuel. These are major issues that we as a community face; they are issues that this government is very concerned about. And there are issues which are a real focus in relation to our reviews, most particularly, of concessions and support—which we as a government and as a community can appropriately provide those members of this community that will be stressed as a result of the increase, the inevitable increase, of the cost of electricity, the provision of other utilities and fuel.
These very issues are at the heart of much of the work that we do in relation to ensuring that we respond appropriately for those members of our community who will face genuine stress as a result of the increase in the price of some of these staples of existence—electricity, gas, the other utilities and fuel.
We are very aware of the issue. We have a number of reviews in place in relation to concessions and the impact of cost of living. And of course these particular issues around the price of oil into the future are fundamental to all of our considerations in relation to sustainable transport and sustainability generally and our commitment to sustainable living and a sustainable city.
But in the context of the detailed questions around peak oil, and our engagement in relation to that issue, I will take some technical advice that my officials and the department provide to me and respond in full.
Hospitals—waiting lists
MR SMYTH: My question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, you have asked for other references. Well, here is another one. I refer to the Auditor-General’s report, Waiting lists for elective surgery and medical treatment. On page 5 the Auditor-General found:
… downgrades of patients’ urgency category, often without documented clinical reasons, raised considerable doubts about the reliability and appropriateness of the clinical classifications for patients on the waiting lists.
Minister, why were patients’ urgency categories downgraded often without documented clinical reasons?
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