Page 805 - Week 02 - Thursday, 23 February 2012
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I certainly welcome the fact that we have finally got an agreement. I am disappointed that it has taken three years, but I welcome the agreement between the government and the Little Company of Mary. Without having seen the detail of it, in principle we need to see an agreement signed so that we can get on with the business of delivering health services to the north of Canberra and developing and enhancing Calvary hospital. I think we are now all at a point in this Assembly where we agree that that is the course of action that needs to take place and we need to get on with it. But we have had a delay for three years and, given the mistrust that has developed because of Katy Gallagher’s actions and the fact that she has said quite publicly on many occasions that she will run an open and accountable government, this agreement should be provided in the Assembly. We will be supporting this motion.
MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Chief Minister, Minister for Health and Minister for Territory and Municipal Services) (5.33): I thank Ms Bresnan for moving this motion today. The government is happy to support this motion. I have sought advice on the release of the network agreement for public consumption. There are some concerns from Little Company of Mary Health Care around making this network agreement public, but I believe that, if it is the will of this Assembly, if a motion is passed in this Assembly, it will send a very strong message that this suite of agreements should be made available to the community of the ACT.
Importantly, it is a contract worth in the order of $140 million a year, providing around 30 per cent of the acute care needs of the people of the ACT. So the government certainly believes that this information should be made public and I am very pleased that other members feel the same way today. I am not sure that I am in a position to table it this evening, but I do give a commitment that I will table the suite that make up the network agreement in the next sitting period.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Adjournment
Motion by (Mr Barr) proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Belconnen Community Council
MS PORTER (Ginninderra) (5.35): On Tuesday evening this week, along with Dr Bourke and Ms Hunter, I attended the monthly meeting of the Belconnen Community Council. The meeting was particularly important, as senior officials from Territory and Municipal Services and the ACT Water Ski Association were there to outline details for a proposed trial of waterskiing on Lake Ginninderra. They were very keen to hear the views of members of the public and other community groups, including Ginninderra Waterwatch.
Unfortunately, Mr Coe and Mrs Dunne were not able to be there, as they obviously had other more pressing constituency matters to deal with. I was certain that the
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