Page 3172 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 22 August 2012
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
at both of our emergency departments are working harder than the Liberal Party would have ever worked in its life to make sure that we reach the targets set—and not only reach the targets but at the same time deliver the outstanding care that they provide to the people of the ACT through that emergency department. That is what is being done. I look forward to you supporting that line in the budget, Mr Smyth.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Minister, do you take responsibility for the ACT failing to meet the emergency department targets and therefore failing to receive funding that could help Canberrans to receive faster treatment at the emergency department?
MS GALLAGHER: Again it is a hypothetical question. The target has been—
Mr Smyth: So you don’t take responsibility?
MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth!
MS GALLAGHER: We have not failed to reach the target, Mr Smyth; that is the point.
MR SPEAKER: Chief Minister, one moment thank you. Stop the clock. Mr Smyth, I remind you that you are on a warning from the Deputy Speaker earlier, and the Chief Minister had only had about four seconds before you interjected. So can we let the Chief Minister answer the question, thank you.
MS GALLAGHER: Mr Smyth’s question was: do I take responsibility for failing to meet the target? The target is there. It is a measure of a calendar year; that is, for those opposite who obviously are challenged with this, from 1 January to 31 December. The target has not been failed.
MR HANSON: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Minister, do you take responsibility for agreeing to elective surgery department targets and then failing to meet them?
MS GALLAGHER: I do not believe we did fail to meet the targets, Mr Hanson. I am having ongoing discussions with the commonwealth around it. Indeed, so is the Liberal Party in WA, who also lost quite a bit of money under the elective surgery targets.
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: They are complaining loud and strong, Mr Hanson. So there we have it: a Liberal Party that lost money under performance targets. Do you know what? The WA Liberal Party health minister and I are at one on this. We want
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video