Page 602 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 22 February 2012
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Mrs Dunne: A point of order, Mr Speaker.
MS GALLAGHER: You don’t like this, do you?
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mrs Dunne?
Mrs Dunne: The standing orders say that the minister in answering the question should not debate the question, should answer it directly and it should be directly relevant. The question was: how can ACT residents trust that the women’s and children’s hospital will be functional midyear?
MR SPEAKER: On the point of order, Mrs Dunne, I think the challenge on a question like this is that it is obviously a political as opposed to a factual question. I think that invites the minister to make the comments that she is making. So in light of the question, there is no point of order at this point. But let us focus on the facts of the matter.
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Hargreaves: On a point of order, Mr Speaker, in the interjection from Mr Hanson he accused the Chief Minister. He said, “You’ve already broken a promise once.” I would ask him to either withdraw that or come forward with a substantive motion.
Mr Hanson: On the point of order—
Members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Hanson has the floor.
Mr Hanson: I stand by that assertion because the Chief Minister promised a certain date by which the facility would be open and that did not occur. Therefore that was a broken promise. I stand by that. If the Chief Minister or the government require me to move a substantive motion, I will.
MR SPEAKER: Let us continue with the answer to the question. The Minister for Health has the floor. There is no point of order.
MS GALLAGHER: The women’s and children’s hospital will provide women and children in the ACT with, when it is fully operational, a 146-bed specialised facility, a new neo-natal intensive care unit, a new paediatrics unit, new gynaecology areas, new outpatient areas, new labour, birthing and delivery suites. We are moving the birthing centre from three units to five. This is—
Mrs Dunne: It should be there now, though, shouldn’t it?
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