Page 4728 - Week 16 - Wednesday, 28 November 1990
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
MR MOORE: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. You mentioned that the Mental Health Branch is interested in that building. You would agree, I am sure, that that is likely to be an incompatible use with a baby health centre, and that any facilities that are found would need to be agreed to by that group as being appropriate.
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, the Government would have no desire to have children using the premises at the same time as, for example, people who might be suffering from mental illnesses. However, whether that is the sort of use for which the Mental Health Branch would like the building I could not say. Clearly that would not be compatible; but, on the other hand, it may be required for administrative purposes, in which case there may be some compatibility. I will certainly bear that matter in mind when a decision is being considered on that question.
Royal Canberra Hospital
MR CONNOLLY: My question is to the Minister for Health, Mr Humphries. I refer the Minister to the front page story in today's Canberra Times headed, "KIX persuaded to drop anti-closure ads: Pressure from health officials". Will the Minister advise the Assembly as to the nature of the pressure, threats or promises made to KIX by senior health department officers, and can the Minister advise whether those threats or promises or other form of pressure related to current or future advertising by the Government with that commercial station?
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, yes, I can advise Mr Connolly on that question and I thank him for his question. No pressure or threats of any kind were offered or tendered in respect of this issue by officials either of the Board of Health or of my ministry to anyone at KIX FM. I might indicate the sequence of events that gave rise to that front page story.
On Wednesday, 21 November, the Board of Health's attention was drawn to advertisements being broadcast on KIX 106 in support of a "Save the Royal Canberra Hospital" concert planned for Sunday, 25 November. This was the board's first notice of the event, and contact was made with the station on Tuesday, 22 November, to gain some background. It became clear through a telephone conversation that the station was under the impression that it was sponsoring an official or semiofficial event on behalf of the Royal Canberra Hospital. This was not the case - - -
Members interjected.
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, those opposite are incredulous; but these matters, I am sure, could be very easily verified by talking to KIX 106 itself. I am very happy to supply the names of people at that station that had contact with
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .