Page 2462 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 14 November 1989
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supported so far by the team, but there is a way to go. As I indicated to Mr Duby, I was not prepared to make a guesstimate about what the eventual report of the review team might be. I think that is a responsible position. I do not think we need to have any more speculation about budget blow-outs in the hospital system. We need to deal with facts and deal with the matter responsibly, and that is what the Government intends to do. In relation to the second question - - -
MR SPEAKER: Please proceed. They thought you had finished, Mr Berry.
MR BERRY: There are three parts, and I would not want to miss - - -
Mr Kaine: He has not answered the first one, so maybe he will do better with the second and the third, Mr Speaker.
MR BERRY: There are three parts and, Mr Speaker, I am now onto the second part. I think I told Mr Kaine the answer to the first one.
Mr Kaine: No, you didn't.
MR BERRY: I did not give Mr Kaine the answer that he wanted, perhaps. That is all he is going to get.
Mr Kaine: We are well aware of that, Minister, but now get on to question 2 and see if you can do any better at that.
MR BERRY: In relation to question 2 the answer is no. I think I have made it very clear, in relation to the second part of the question, that we have responded to a report about budget overruns by sending in a Treasury review team which is examining the issue very closely, and there has been an interim report. I will not go over that because of my fear of something of a rebuff from the Leader of the Opposition but we have dealt with that responsibly. No, there is no mismanagement on my part.
The third part of the question related to the budget which was announced by the Government. The situation is still the same. The Government's bottom line on savings in the health system is the same as it always was. Currently, there are negotiations going on with relevant unions about how those budget savings can be made in the areas which affect workers in the hospital system.
Those negotiations are, by their very nature, sensitive, and I think you would have all learned from the press today about anxiety amongst workers in the hospital system over the issue of cost savings. I do not think it does any good to speculate about progress in the industrial relations area. My experience dictates to me that these issues have to be dealt with in a commonsense environment and in a very sensible and responsible industrial relations management environment. I think I have answered all of the questions.
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