Page 2463 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 14 November 1989
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MR KAINE: Since the Minister has not answered any of the questions that I asked him, I would like to ask a supplementary question. In his response earlier he referred to a letter from the interim board. In the interests of removing all speculation from the matter, would the Minister care to table the letter so that we can all see what the board recommended and we can all judge whether he is doing anything about it or not?
MR BERRY: I think I made it clear that the letter was a confidential one from the interim board, and it was sent to me - - -
Mr Kaine: This is open government, is it, that we are talking about?
MR BERRY: If the lunacy of the Liberal Party's actions in its criticism of the hospital system - - -
Mr Kaine: On a point of order, Mr Speaker; I totally object to being referred to as a lunatic, and I wish the Minister would withdraw it.
MR SPEAKER: Overruled, Mr Kaine.
Mr Kaine: He has to be referring to me.
MR SPEAKER: He did not, Mr Kaine.
Mr Kaine: Mr Speaker, I do not regard this as being funny. I object to being referred to as a lunatic.
MR SPEAKER: I am afraid that was an interpretation that I did not take from - - -
Mr Kaine: I did, and I would like him to withdraw it.
MR SPEAKER: The ruling on that is: please proceed, Mr Berry.
MR BERRY: The letter to which I referred earlier, in which the interim board had reported to me some matters, was a confidential one and, in my view, if it were tabled in this place, it would do nothing to assist the Government in resolving potential industrial situations amongst the workers in the hospital field. I can say that the likely speculation and reporting of matters contained in that letter would be inappropriate in the current circumstances. There is nothing terribly secret about the letter but, given that it was sent to me in confidence, I intend to treat it that way. I do not therefore care to table it. I intend to make sure that all of the negotiations which are associated with, firstly, any hospital cost overruns which are identified by the review team and, secondly, the implementation of the budget are as isolated as possible from political point taking which I previously described as lunacy.
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