Page 673 - Week 02 - Thursday, 23 March 2023

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Ms Lawder: Shame!

MS CASTLEY: That is right. It is a shame. We all know about the minister taking three months to answer the simple question of: how many beds have there been in the maternity ward at Calvary Hospital in the years from 2016 onwards? The 26 questions are all questions of fact. Many require a simple yes or no. Including them in this motion, with a deadline to answer them, will impose discipline on this minister, the ACT Health Directorate and Canberra Health Services to address these concerns as a priority.

If data sharing is not showing a drop in services, I would like to advise the minister to read some of the Facebook comments and the comments on the articles posted across all of the media. They are people sharing their real-life experiences, and it is grim. I conclude, again, that they are life and death issues. That is why we have gone with this motion today.

Last night I was contacted by someone responding to the gynaecology oncology motion. They had no idea that I was moving a motion about cardiology services today. It was the desperate daughter of an inpatient currently at the Canberra Hospital. She is going through agony. Her story was heartbreaking to hear. They have been told that a cardiology operation available in Sydney will give her father a better chance of recovery and quality of life than a procedure being offered here. Limited choices are one consequence of an understaffed cardiology department at the Canberra Hospital. Minister, you need to act.

Question put:

That the motion be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Question resolved in the negative.

Multicultural communities—diversity and acceptance

MR BRADDOCK (Yerrabi) (3.58): I move:

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