Page 41 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 13 February 2018
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Mrs Dunne: On the point of order, there is a substantial body of ruling which says that it is out of order to use an answer to attack other parties’ policies in this place, especially when this question is directly about this government’s policy.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mrs Dunne, I recognise your experience in these matters but I am not going to provide that as a point of order. The minister does have a minute left to answer the question.
MS FITZHARRIS: We know that increased access to primary healthcare services, which includes walk-in centres and GPs, does assist in taking pressure off emergency departments because it gives people another option.
MRS DUNNE: Minister, what did the business case for existing walk-in clinics say about their impact on the presentation at emergency departments and on what basis was that analysis made?
MS FITZHARRIS: As indicated in my answer in response to a question on notice, it is multi-factorial. The health system is a complex system if people do not otherwise have an option to present to a nurse walk-in centre. I repeat that 36,000 Canberrans did in the previous year and I am looking forward to more Canberrans having access to walk-in centres in the Gungahlin region, in the Weston Creek region and also in the inner north. This government’s commitment to nurse walk-in centres is absolute. We will continue to work with other stakeholders to make sure that we can integrate primary health care and get value for money for ACT residents.
MR WALL: Minister, what does the business case for the two new walk-in clinics say about their likely impact on presentations at emergency departments at the hospitals?
MS FITZHARRIS: They have not been fully completed yet, but we look forward to opening the Gungahlin walk-in centre later this year.
Opposition members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Members of the opposition, please.
Budget—2017-18 update
MS ORR: My question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, what does the 2017-18 budget update show about the strength of the ACT economy and the territory’s improving financial position?
MR BARR: I thank Ms Orr for the question. It is indeed pleasing to see that the territory’s nation-leading economic growth, the 10,000 new jobs that were created in our city last year, is flowing through to business confidence across the territory and that we are also seeing a very strong outcome for the territory budget.
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