Page 3129 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 22 August 2012
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We have also seen the broader failure across our health system: in elective surgery, the painful wait for elective surgery, the awful deterioration that we have seen in waiting times. We have seen a minister who said that she had no responsibility when it came to general practice, despite the chronic shortage of GPs and the crisis that had emerged. We saw the bullying in obstetrics, where doctors resigned en masse. Doctors came forward and said, “We’re being bullied.” What did the Chief Minister do? She attacked them; she threatened them. The AMA rightly said it was a witch-hunt. What sort of culture has this Chief Minister set up where the message is, “If you come forward and say you are being bullied then you will be persecuted”? She will try and cover it up and protect the bullies. It is no wonder we have the problems that we do, because that culture has been established by the Chief Minister.
We have seen the failure in infrastructure delivery. We have seen the Australian Nursing Federation and obstetricians groups deplore the model for the women and children’s hospital, which has been only half-built, which is already $20 million late and which is months, if not years, overdue. We have seen the fiasco with the hospital car park, and the $60 million to $70 million every year of rollover in health infrastructure that needs to be there for our community. We have seen—
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, just one moment. Could you just stop the clock for a moment, please? Mr Hanson, a few minutes ago you said that the Chief Minister was perpetuating a lie. I do not believe, under standing orders 54 and 55, that you would actually do that. I would like you to withdraw that, please.
Mrs Dunne: Madam Speaker, on a point of order, this is a vote of no confidence in the Chief Minister and the terms of the motion indicate that we are pursuing the truthfulness of things that have been said by the Chief Minister. These are circumstances in which—probably the only circumstance in which—such a thing can be said in accordance with the standing orders.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, Mrs Dunne. I am aware of what—
Mr Hargreaves: On the point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker—
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Hargreaves.
Mr Hargreaves: I believe, in fact, a good command of parliamentary language would enable any member to be able to make those same comments, those same points, without resorting to the use of unparliamentary language.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Hargreaves. This is what I am drawing to your attention, Mr Hanson. I would ask you to withdraw the word “lie”.
MR HANSON: I am happy to do so and I will replace it with the word “untruthful”, Madam Deputy Speaker.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you.
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