Page 1162 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 2 April 2019
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Canberra Health Services—unauthorised examinations
MRS JONES: My question is also to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Minister, on 13 March this year, Canberra Health Services issued a media release in response to claims of medical procedures being performed without the patients’ consent. Canberra Health Services said:
The allegations are misleading and unfair and likely to lead to unnecessary concerns in the community about public maternity services in the territory.
Canberra Health Services also criticised the Canberra Times for running the story.
You have since received an email that includes the original complaint. Minister, when did you apologise to the midwife who made the submission, who you effectively called a liar, and the Canberra Times journalist who reported the story?
MS FITZHARRIS: Mrs Jones refers to a statement from CHS where CHS indicated that the media headlines do not reflect the unsubstantiated nature of the allegations. We take all feedback seriously. The feedback was received by an inquiry of this Assembly. I respect the work that the committees in this Assembly undertake. CHS did make a statement, which they provided publicly on 13 March—
Mrs Jones: Madam Speaker, I raise a point of order on relevance. The question was: did you apologise to either the midwife or the Canberra Times journalist? That is the question. There has not been a single part of the answer about that question. Please could you direct the minister to be relevant to the question.
MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you, Mrs Jones. The subtext of the question was about a media release being misleading and unfair, and comments around criticising the Canberra Times. The minister has been responding to the media release and the commentary. You can ask the question about apologising. She is now running out of time. I cannot direct the minister how to answer. I believe she was being relevant to the substance of the question.
MS FITZHARRIS: I believe that Mrs Jones has accused me of lying, which—
Opposition members interjecting—
MS FITZHARRIS: The feedback that I received in my office, as those opposite are aware, is unsubstantiated. (Time expired.)
Mrs Jones: You’re still saying it’s unsubstantiated.
MADAM SPEAKER: Is there a supplementary, Mrs Jones?
MRS JONES: Yes, there is; wonderful. Minister, did your office approve the media release being issued or otherwise have any discussions or visual with Canberra Health Services about its content?
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