Page 5246 - Week 16 - Thursday, 28 November 1991
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MS FOLLETT: I thank Mr Kaine for the question. It is an interesting one. The first thing I should say is that Mr Kaine's raising the question today is the very first I have heard of the matter. I can say that I have seen no request through my office, although I have here a late advice that the Government has been contacted through Mr Wood's office and the suggestion has been made to contact my office. It sounds to me to be a fascinating project. Indeed, it is probably historic. I would not imagine that eight Russian light aircraft would have been seen in Canberra before - certainly not all together. Indeed, I would look favourably upon a request for some form of hospitality, as I have for many other groups on many other occasions in Canberra. So, if Mr Kaine has further information, perhaps we could talk about that later. I note that they are to contact me on the matter.
Reimbursement of Private Hospital Fees
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister for Health. It concerns the case of a young woman who made a claim against the ACT Government earlier this year on the basis that she had been refused admission to a public hospital. She claimed from the Government the fees that she incurred at a private hospital in the ACT. Given that the Minister said at the time that she ought to have been reimbursed, and given that at the Estimates Committee hearings some two months ago the Minister promised to reconsider her case, I ask the Minister whether now, approximately nine months after this incident occurred, he has made a decision on whether she should be reimbursed her fees.
MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, this gives me an opportunity to - - -
Mr Humphries: Waffle.
MR BERRY: No, to hark back to the very serious damage that was done to the hospital system while Mr Humphries was in office. But I am not about to go over all of those issues, because the people of the ACT, of course, are aware of that. The question of an ex gratia payment is still being examined.
Mr Humphries: Nine months later?
MR BERRY: What did you do when you were there, Mr Humphries?
Mr Humphries: I refused it, but you said that you were going to pay it.
MR SPEAKER: Order!
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