Page 2849 - Week 07 - Thursday, 7 June 2012
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In this budget, the Chief Minister has promised hundreds of millions for new beds and hospital infrastructure that this time, finally, the results might be better. Chief Minister, we are still waiting for the hospital you promised last time. It is still not ready. We can already tell from the shifting and shifty language in your press releases that you are gearing up for a partial opening—not the full hospital you led this city to believe you would deliver. It is the prison all over again. I think there is a prediction I can make with some certainty—there will be a raft of ribbon cuttings this year culminating in the hospital, which is certain to be six to eight weeks out from the election, purely by coincidence.
I also predict that, no matter what has been promised in this budget, this government will not deliver. That is the history of health under ACT Labor and Katy Gallagher. From one of the best, to one of the worst. Continual promises that this time it will be better. Continual disappointment when delivery simply does not happen. And growing cynicism about this government’s record.
It is not the only story of abject failure there is to tell about this government’s 11 years in power. There was a report that was scathing in its review of the care and protection of young people in the territory. The review stated:
There is a critical lack of quality placement options for children and young people needing the care and protection of the Territory Parent.
The report also includes concerns expressed directly by the Office of the Community Advocate about the failure of the ACT director of family services to meet statutory obligations. These are damning criticisms—abject failure of one of the government’s most basic obligations: to keep our kids safe.
But that is not the most damning thing about this report. The most damning aspect is that this report is eight years old and nothing has changed. Eight years ago the Vardon report slammed the government for their failures to protect our kids. The minister at the time was Katy Gallagher.
Last October the Public Advocate issued a report that slammed the same government for the same problems. It reported 24 breaches of the law and said the system left children traumatised as if they had suffered abuse. Last week, the Public Advocate issued another report, explicitly stating that many of the issues raised in the Vardon report still have relevance today. Eight years, three reports—nothing has changed. It is nothing short of a disgrace and you, as the minister responsible for the first report and Chief Minister responsible for government during the last two, should be ashamed at failing the most basic task of protecting our most vulnerable citizens.
In almost every other area, the government has flagged and failed. From the GDE—the icon of Labor’s inability to build—to the office block that was to be the saviour of the public service and offer savings in the budget. All have been delivered late or not at all. This leads not just to a lack of competence, which is plain for all to see, but a lack of candour, a lack of honesty. It is the lack of honesty that really is the hallmark of this government.
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