Page 4343 - Week 12 - Thursday, 24 October 2019
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MS LE COUTEUR: Minister, given the difficulties of rehoming, do you think it is possible for us to ensure the enforcement of existing welfare standards for retired racehorses?
MR STEEL: We are one of the only jurisdictions that has a racing club with a specific rule prohibiting horses from being sent to a knackery or abattoir when they retire from the ACT thoroughbred racing industry. Rules are in place and we are seeking assurances from the industry that appropriate processes are being followed to ensure the welfare of animals that are racing in the ACT.
Canberra Hospital—SPIRE project
MS LEE: My question is to the Minister for Health. SPIRE 2 provides entry to the emergency department via Palmer Street and Gilmore Crescent, and is located opposite the junior play area of Garran Primary School. Minister, how many of the Canberra Hospital’s peer hospitals have entry to their emergency departments via suburban streets?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Ms Lee for her question. For the interest of members I will table the letter that I sent to Garran Residents Association, Garran Primary School and the Woden Valley Community Council yesterday, which does run through some of these issues. I present the following paper:
The Canberra Hospital—SPIRE Project—Traffic impacts on Gilmore Crescent and Palmer Street, Garran—Copy of correspondence from the Minister for Health to the Garran Residents’ Association.
I indicate that while substantial progress is being made on developing the SPIRE project, and as I said earlier, we have an industry briefing going on right now as the first stage of this main works procurement process—
Mrs Dunne: A point of order, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: Minister, resume your seat, please.
Mrs Dunne: The standing orders require that the minister be directly relevant to the question, and the question was: how many of the Canberra Hospital’s peer hospitals have entry to their emergency departments via suburban streets? I think that is a number; or, if the minister does not know, she can take it on notice.
MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you. I think the minister has time to respond to the question.
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: As I was saying, substantial progress has been made on developing the project, but it is still in the early stages of design. We are very pleased to get feedback from the community in relation to the matters of concern. We are at that early stage of community engagement. I would note that a number of peer hospitals in major cities are in suburban locations, where people have to drive to the hospital down fairly suburban streets.
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