Page 1617 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 12 May 2015
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MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Dr Bourke.
DR BOURKE: Minister, are you aware of any criticisms of bed numbers at the University of Canberra public hospital? What is the actual situation in relation to planning for beds at the UC public hospital?
MR CORBELL: I thank Dr Bourke for his supplementary. Yes, I am aware of that criticism. Indeed, we have heard that criticism today from the Leader of the Opposition, making the outlandish and factually incorrect claims that he has made about so-called reductions in bed numbers at the University of Canberra public hospital.
The facts are these, Madam Speaker: there will be 250 beds at the University of Canberra public hospital. There will be 140 overnight beds and there will be 75 day beds. We have been very, very clear about that from the beginning. But I think that Mr Hanson is suffering from a memory lapse. On 26 March 2013, in response to a question from Mr Hanson taken on notice by the then minister, the then Minister for Health advised Mr Hanson:
Based on current service planning work for University of Canberra Public Hospital, to build a facility that can take up to 200 beds, there will be capacity for 166 overnight inpatient beds in 2017/18.
He knew back in 2013—
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order!
MR CORBELL: that there would be fewer than 200 overnight beds. He knew that in 2013—
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition.
MR CORBELL: but just in case he missed that, on 26 February last year—
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order!
MR CORBELL: the Minister for Health again advised this Assembly that there would be 140 overnight inpatient beds and 75 day beds. So one year ago and two years ago in this place—
MADAM SPEAKER: The member’s time has expired.
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