Page 3171 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 22 August 2012
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MS GALLAGHER: That is a hypothetical question; it cannot be answered until the calendar year is complete. It is a measure of performance over the calendar year. My understanding is that in the last formal documents I saw we were at 57 per cent. We need to be at 64 per cent by the end of the calendar year, involving both hospitals. So in that sense I can assure Mr Smyth that we are doing everything that we can to ensure that the targets are met. That is down to the hard work of people working in both Canberra Hospital and Calvary Hospital emergency departments.
If Mr Smyth is so concerned about resources to the emergency department, though, I will look forward to the Liberal Party supporting the $12 million that is allocated in this week’s budget for resources to the emergency department. What I can tell you is that the reward funding under the NEAT is $800,000. I can see how important you find $800,000. I know that you will find the $12 million that we have put in the budget for the emergency department to flow as soon as the budget passes on Friday, albeit a bit late. When that money can flow, I think that is going to have a lot more impact in the emergency department than $800,000. But—
Mr Smyth: So you just dismiss it.
MS GALLAGHER: No, I am not dismissing it, Mr Smyth. You put words in my mouth yet again. I am not dismissing it. I am merely drawing the analogy between your concern for $800,000 and then your recommendation in the dissenting report where you opposed the budget, which has $12 million in it for the emergency department. I am just drawing it to your attention; you can make of it what you like. What I am saying is that $12 million for the emergency department will go a lot further than $800,000. But we are doing everything we can to get $12.8 million into the emergency department, based on our timeliness.
Members interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: Mr Seselja again smiles and goes, “And how’s that going?” in his sarcastic tone. Obviously, you are very keen to ensure that we do not meet that target, Mr Seselja.
Mr Seselja interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: I am going to call you on it. Your little snide asides, your grins, you little powwows with Jeremy.
Mr Seselja interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: Yes, got another good aside in there. Got another “bag the health system again”.
MR SPEAKER: Members, order! Ms Gallagher, the question, thank you.
MS GALLAGHER: That is what you are doing, Mr Seselja. You try to pretend you are not. That is what you are doing. We are putting in $12 million, and then the staff
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