Page 637 - Week 02 - Thursday, 20 February 2020
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Mrs Dunne: Point of order.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ms Lee): Mrs Dunne.
Mrs Dunne: It is not usually the custom in this place to make adverse comments about members. The minister has just commented that I left the chamber. She does not know why I left the chamber.
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: You do that all the time.
Mrs Dunne: It is not my item of business, and I am not required to be here.
Mr Rattenbury: On the point of order, Madam Assistant Speaker, many members of the Canberra Liberals constantly comment on the absence of various members on other sides of the chamber not being in the chamber at particular times. Mrs Dunne’s exception, while she may feel an exception, is actually well precedented.
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: Madam Assistant Speaker, if it assists Mrs Dunne, I withdraw any imputation that she may have interpreted in relation to my comments, and I apologise to her.
Mrs Dunne: Thank you.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Thank you. Minister, please continue.
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: Madam Assistant Speaker, I would like to thank Mrs Dunne for drawing members’ attention again to the wonderful ACT Health app that is available to members of our community that enables people to see what the wait times are likely to be. It is true that right at this moment the wait time in Belconnen is appearing as being over an hour. The wait time in Tuggeranong is 25 minutes and the wait time at Weston Creek walk-in centre is zero. We can also see the wait times for our emergency departments. Today Canberra Hospital is looking pretty bad, but Calvary is looking good. If you need to go to emergency today, please go to Calvary if you can.
I am pleased that Ms Cheyne has had the opportunity to update the Assembly on the number of presentations at our walk-in-centres and to note that in the July to September quarter for this financial year walk-in-centres had almost 17,500 presentations. That has been almost a doubling of presentations in five years. On current indications, 2019-20 will be another record year for walk-in-centres.
Canberrans have absolutely welcomed the professional, accessible and approachable care provided by the amazing staff we have at our walk-in-centres, which are staffed by highly skilled advanced practice nurses and nurse practitioners with extensive experience in treating minor injuries and illness.
Talking about minor injuries and illness, Mrs Dunne likes to refer to things that she believes should be treated at home. I have spoken directly with friends, family and
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