Page 4576 - Week 16 - Tuesday, 27 November 1990
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users, and to identify low priority areas where mowing could be reduced or withdrawn, which allows the suitable allocation of resources to areas of high priority. Mowing of strategic areas which are important for bushfire protection is not affected by changes in priority. Those areas are programmed to be mown before the grass dries off in December.
All mowing machines are now operational, and contractors have been engaged at levels similar to and higher than those of the 1989-90 financial year. This early commitment of resources has ensured that the long grass problems have been minimised. Indeed, if Mr Moore would like to go and consult with his constituents - which, given the type of questions that Mr Moore asks in this Assembly, I do not think he ever does; I think he only talks it over around the kitchen table with himself, or looks into the mirror when he is deciding whether to shave or not - he would have realised that people have commented that this year throughout the city the level of grass and the length of grass is substantially different to that of last year. A number of people have commented and written to me to say how appreciative they are of the fact that the city is not looking shaggy and overgrown as it was last year.
Direct expenditure on grass mowing in the 1989-90 financial year was $4m and, of course, that was only because I made it a high priority and got additional funding into it. Expenditure in the 1990-91 financial year is expected to be $4.1m. Mr Speaker, these plans have ensured that City Parks is coping as well as possible, and have avoided the long grass problems and the enormous number of complaints which were evident at this time last year.
Royal Canberra Hospital North - Future Uses of Site
MR BERRY: My question is directed to the Minister for Health, Mr Humphries. Mr Speaker, I would just like to note that the former name of the hospital formerly - - -
Mr Collaery: Is this a question, Mr Speaker?
MR BERRY: It is; indeed it is. The former name of the hospital formerly known as the Royal Canberra Hospital was the Canberra Community Hospital. I wonder whether the Minister could tell us how many beds will be in this community hospital which has been announced by the Chief Minister today. Is he aware that the closure of the Royal Canberra Hospital has been reversed, or is he concerned that the Chief Minister might not know what the proper interpretation of a community hospital is?
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I do not intend to answer a question which is entirely hypothetical because, as Mr Berry full knows, the Chief Minister has made no such announcement. Mr Berry clearly is so believing of his own
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