Page 1095 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 20 March 1991
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Mr Berry's redevelopment plan, as expressed in his statement of October 1989, was given an arbitrary costing of "$200m to $210m". I have given a precise figure of $166.32m from my costings. Yet Mr Berry says that his plans were much better and much more definite and would produce a much better result. I really wonder whether, if he were Minister today, he would be able to be more specific than $200m to $210m. I doubt it.
When asked today by Julie Derrett what he would do now if he were Minister for Health, he said:
It would be difficult to say exactly what we'd need after the next election.
That is Mr Berry's contribution - no answers. He has had a year and a half in Opposition and he still has no answers.
Mr Kaine: He did not know when he was in government. How would he know now?
MR HUMPHRIES: Indeed, Chief Minister, he did not know when he was in government and unfortunately the seclusion and solitude of opposition has not given him any more ideas. I am afraid I treat these claims with contempt until I see what the alternatives are.
Linear Accelerator
MS FOLLETT: My question is also addressed to Mr Humphries, the Minister for Health. The current waiting list for radiotherapy is unacceptably long and, since access to prompt treatment can affect both the lifespan and the quality of life for cancer sufferers, will the Minister tell the Assembly when the new linear accelerator will be commissioned? Tell us about your quality service.
MR HUMPHRIES: First of all, Opposition members may not be aware - because they do not bother to take an interest in the matter - that work has been commissioned at the Royal Canberra Hospital South to extend the radiology department, which will provide, of course, for a new bunker to accommodate the new linear accelerator which this Government has indicated previously will be provided.
The linear accelerator presently at the Royal Canberra Hospital South is a $1.5m machine which generates X-rays and electron beams, for those of you opposite who do not know, used in radiotherapy. The biomedical engineering service at the hospital has obviously monitored repeatedly the progress and the state of capability of that machine to deliver services, and it has experienced breakdown in the past. Procurement of a new wave guide from the United States would normally cost about $140,000. That is one of the problems with the present equipment, and that particular piece of equipment would take eight to 10 weeks for delivery and installation.
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