Page 593 - Week 02 - Thursday, 21 February 1991
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members of the Opposition or to the media or whomever. However, I have maintained the position - and I stand by it - that the public hospital system is there to serve, and particularly to serve in cases of emergency; and, where a person arrives at the hospital in need of immediate assistance, that service will always be provided by our public hospital system. That is my undertaking as Minister.
MR CONNOLLY: Mr Speaker, I ask a supplementary question. Will the Minister undertake an education campaign to advise the community of the level of private health insurance required to guarantee access to hospital care?
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, the answer is no. It is not my responsibility as Minister responsible for the public health system to tell people how they can get admission to private hospitals. That is not my business. I will, however, ensure that the people in the public hospital system are aware of the Government's policy on that matter. They hardly need to be reminded of it, but they should certainly be made aware that it is the policy to admit to the hospital the people who are in emergency need. Where that is the case, they will always be admitted, as I have said. I intend to ensure, through education if necessary, that that continues to be the case.
Leases - Breaches of Development Conditions
MS FOLLETT: Mr Speaker, I have a further question for Mr Kaine. I refer Mr Kaine to the article in today's Canberra Times concerning the failure of lessees to comply with development conditions on leases at Belconnen, at Dickson and at section 52 in the city. Mr Kaine, what action is the Government taking on these breaches?
Mr Moore: Throw in section 10 while you are at it.
MS FOLLETT: Yes, section 10 also.
MR KAINE: I did read that article and I was rather interested in what the article said. I did get an update on the status of each of those leases on the basis that I thought that somebody in the Opposition just might be interested to know the facts. So I happen to have them.
In connection with the Westfield site in Belconnen, the lessee has failed to meet obligations under the lease. The lessee has approached the Government for a further extension of time within which to meet its obligations and we are considering that application to see whether or not it is in the best interests of everybody concerned, under the present economic conditions, to accede to that request. I think it is pretty obvious that, in today's world, if you can get such a project under way, even with delay, it is better than to set it aside entirely.
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