Page 2882 - Week 10 - Thursday, 15 August 1991

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MR SPEAKER: Members, it being slightly after 12.30 pm, is it the wish of the Assembly that the sitting be suspended?

Mr Stevenson: I will take a while. It will be best this afternoon, perhaps.

MR SPEAKER: It is up to the members.

Mr Collaery: Mr Speaker, I wish to say about 10 words and defend myself from Mr Jensen. Mr Jensen said that successive governments of all persuasions - - -

MR SPEAKER: Order! I seek a motion that the debate be adjourned until a later hour.

Debate (on motion by Mr Berry) adjourned.

Sitting suspended from 12.32 to 2.30 pm

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Private Hospital Beds

MR HUMPHRIES: My question is to the Minister for Health. I refer Mr Berry once again to the statement in the feasibility study on ACT public hospitals:

There are significant financial advantages to the ACT budget of provision of private hospital beds at a ratio comparable with other States.

Having had the advantage of conferring with his aides and 24 hours to think about it, can the Minister today tell the Assembly how levels in the ACT private hospital provision compare with the States'? Does he agree with the statement made in the feasibility study? What strategy is the Government pursuing to implement that statement?

MR BERRY: The first thing that has to be recognised by the former Minister is that the statement is not the Government's statement; it is the review team's statement.

Mr Humphries: I am asking you whether you agree with it. Is it government policy to go along with that statement?

MR BERRY: I think the standing orders preclude questions that ask me for an expression of opinion on the matter.

Mr Humphries: What is the Government's view on it?

Mr Kaine: He is not asking for your opinion; he is asking what you are going to do about it.

MR BERRY: I will just sit down and let him finish the question. He does not seem to have in the question all of the bits and pieces that he wants.


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