Page 2580 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 15 November 1989
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Standing order 42 says:
Every Member desiring to speak shall rise and address the Speaker.
Please take note of your own standing orders. If you wish them to be revised so that it can turn into a free-for-all, we will do that, but, until that happens, please abide by them. Please proceed, Minister Berry.
MR BERRY: Thank you for your protection, Mr Speaker. I think that my demonstrated performance in this matter as Minister for Community Services and Health is clear. I have considered the issues of greatest significance in the hospital system. I must say that I do not include Mr Humphries as a significant part of the hospital system although, if he continues to interfere, with these sorts of outrageous attacks on both the system and the people in it, then it will be more difficult for the Government to address the issues as they arise. But we have addressed them quickly, with careful consideration of all options. There has been no knee-jerk stuff. We have made firm and clear decisions; we have taken a long-term view and demonstrated concern about the best services for clients. I repeat: our actions are in stark contrast to those of others. We have not reacted to selective individuals and groups but have consistently taken action in the best interests of the Canberra community.
MR KAINE (Leader of the Opposition) (3.50): The Chief Minister, as Treasurer, undertook as part of her budget strategy to ensure that the ACT is in no way burdened by debt and that the budget is balanced and cost-effective for ACT citizens. What we have seen, however, is a continuous budget saga that has been going on for four months and has not ended yet. Despite the fine words, we have a government that presents the image of uncertainty and indecision, both in developing a budget and in managing it.
The entire so-called consultative process appears to be the action of a government that wants somebody else to make the decisions for it. We are lucky, Mr Speaker, that there are no productivity measurements or performance indicators for our Ministers. Having regard to the low performance that we have witnessed over the past few months, I think they would, in most cases, be hard pressed to justify themselves based on their output.
Let me focus on the current debacle, one in which we have seen the Minister for Community Services and Health procrastinate and evade responsibility while the hospital system reaches boiling point. In her initial budget statement in July this year, the Chief Minister stated that the forward estimates report had revealed that the ACT would face a serious shortfall in the funds required to carry out the ongoing functions of government.
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