Page 2964 - Week 13 - Thursday, 23 November 1989
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outside feel, there could be a very different line taken here.
I remember the dealings with Mr Collaery when we were trying to decide on a government, when we thought we would have to go in with a coalition government of some kind. I know all the dealings because I was the one that took all the notes, and I can tell Mr Kaine, who is not here at the moment, that if he is thinking of getting into bed with Mr Collaery he wants to think twice about it. Mr Collaery changes his mind many times. I am sure he changes it more times than he changes his clothes. I think Mr Collaery would be in anything but a bath, Mr Speaker. So, I would think - -
MR SPEAKER: Order! That is quite inappropriate, Mrs Grassby.
MRS GRASSBY: I withdraw it, Mr Speaker. I thought it was rather good, but I will withdraw it if it upsets you.
As for the hospital, these hypocrites who sit on the other side and tell you about the hospital are the people that would mow it down very quickly and put whatever they thought they could make money out of there. We have seen what the New South Wales Government is doing to hospitals. It is selling off the farm to pay the bills. God help the people of Canberra if these people get to govern. God knows what they will sell off to pay the bills.
I can tell you, Mr Speaker, the Treasurer that I have sitting in front of me - who is the Chief Minister - has done wonders with the budget. It has been said, even by her own department, that it has been amazing what we have been able to do with the money we have. Even though we were denied a tax that would have enabled us to do more, we have still been able to form and have passed a budget that has been able to satisfy and keep this city the beautiful city it is.
But God help Canberra if they survive to be the Government. I am just trying to think of what they would sell off. Well, thank God, they cannot sell off the new Parliament House because it is in the Parliamentary Triangle. There was a lovely story yesterday. I am not sure whether it was Mr Jensen who got up and spoke about wanting a new parliament house. I am sorry; it was Mr Collaery. They denied us a tax. They did not give a damn about the hospital or the people in Canberra but they thought we should build a new parliament house. I thought it was absolutely incredible. Before we build a new parliament house, may I say to Mr Collaery, I would suggest that we build a new hospital for the people of Canberra. I would be the last person who would want to sit in a new parliament house and deny the people of this city the right to have a decent, good health system and a new hospital.
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