Page 3582 - Week 12 - Thursday, 20 September 1990
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necessary to have a very strong public hospital system to be able to provide the resources to ensure that effective transplant schemes work and that they work for the common person.
I think there is some conflict in the introduction of new schemes such as this when hospitals which deliver basic services for the people of the Territory are under threat. The delivery of those services is under threat. Of course, as we see those services reduced, it will be difficult to convince the ordinary member of the community that things are much better in health in the ACT because of the introduction of an ACT organ donor notification scheme. I would hope that the Minister does not set out to create a smokescreen from what would be seen, in the normal circumstances, as a progressive move. I hope that this progressive move is not seen to be a smokescreen to cover up what is really happening in hospitals in the Territory.
Mr Deputy Speaker, I will not take too much more of the Assembly's time, other than to say again that the Labor Opposition is behind this scheme and we would wish it every success, but at the same time I say that it must have its successes in a very strong public hospital system which is able to cope with the needs of the people of the ACT. May I say, on a lighter note, that one of the questions that I have been most asked by the school community of late is: Does Mr Humphries have a heart? That is because of their concern about school closures. Whatever size it is, I am sure he does have one, and I would hope that he is still able to be convinced that what has been planned for the education system should not go ahead. Mr Deputy Speaker, the Opposition welcomes the introduction of this scheme.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: I think I might even donate what few organs I have left that actually work.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
Ministerial Statement and Papers
Debate resumed from 14 August 1990, on motion by Mr Collaery:
That the Assembly takes note of the papers.
MR STEVENSON (4.19): Mr Speaker, Lord Acton spoke wisely about power corrupting, and absolute power corrupting absolutely. In Australia, we have the privilege of having a parliamentary system which gives wide safeguards for the people against the principle of power corrupting. Indeed, at the beginning of our Federation there was a full constitution, including a bill of rights, including a wide range of common law, and including certain protections before the courts. With the benefit of wide community
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