Page 1944 - Week 07 - Thursday, 31 May 1990
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Mr Moore: On a point of order, Mr Speaker; standing order 44 states that when two or more members rise to speak the Speaker shall call on the member who rose first. Ms Follett rose first, you called her, and then - - -
MR SPEAKER: Order! I believe it is appropriate that the Chief Minister is called if he stands at the same time as another member. He stood at the same time - - -
Ms Follett: But you called me. It is an understandable mistake. You had called me.
MR SPEAKER: I realise that I did not notice that the Chief Minister was getting slowly to his feet. Under the circumstances - - -
Mr Kaine: I defer to the Leader of the Opposition.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you. Under the circumstances, please defer to Ms Follett. I will always call the Leader of the Opposition before other members of the opposition if they stand at the same time.
Hospital Redevelopment
MS FOLLETT: I have a question for Mr Humphries as Minister for Health. Mr Humphries, on Tuesday in this Assembly you announced the closure of 50 private hospital beds at Calvary Hospital, the closure of 60 public beds at Royal Canberra Hospital and the opening of 60 public beds at Calvary. I ask you: what processes have been undertaken to plan the transfer of beds? How many jobs were involved in the staffing of the 50 beds at Calvary? How many jobs were involved in the staffing of the 60 beds at Royal Canberra Hospital? How many jobs will be involved in the staffing of the 60 new beds at Calvary? Can you guarantee preference to public hospital staff? How can you do that when the Government does not, in fact, employ staff at Calvary?
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, first of all may I say that Ms Follett has asked a number of questions which are obviously going to have to be taken on notice. She should not seem surprised or shocked when I say that. The second point to make is that Ms Follett has ignored a number of things that I have said over the last few days. Of course, Ms Follett has not always been in the chamber for much of that time. That probably explains why she missed some of the comments I made. She will, for example, have ignored or overlooked the fact that I made a statement earlier this week in which I clearly indicated that the Government intended to move towards bringing Calvary Hospital staff into the same public service arrangements as staff at Royal Canberra and Woden Valley Hospitals. That certainly answers the last part of the question she asked.
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