Page 3861 - Week 15 - Tuesday, 15 December 1992

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MR CONNOLLY: I must have missed Mr Stevenson when I was wandering around and making my observations. Yes, I expect that we will, Mr Stevenson. We obviously want to test how the bus interchange taxi rank is going. It seems to be going well. This measure was introduced very swiftly. In effect, I directed the department to move on Monday of last week and the interchange rank was operational by Friday. When we were announcing it on Friday, the signs in Civic were just going up. Signs will be going up in Bunda Street to advise people that the taxi rank there is not the after hours taxi rank. It would probably be appropriate then that after midnight that area be used for other purposes. But until 12 o'clock Bunda Street will remain a Civic taxi rank because the interchange is still being used by buses. Of course, problems may arise that cause us to review the whole scheme.

Better Cities Program

MS SZUTY: Madam Speaker, my question is addressed to the Chief Minister, Ms Follett. Can the Chief Minister inform the Assembly whether the ACT has signed the better cities agreement? If this agreement has been signed, when will the relevant documents be tabled in the Assembly and become publicly available?

MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, I thank Ms Szuty for her question. I can advise her that the better cities arrangements have not yet been finalised. I certainly hope that they will be finalised in the very near future. Of course, at that time I will be very pleased to inform the Assembly and the Canberra community of the terms of those arrangements.

MS SZUTY: I ask a supplementary question. The Chief Minister said that the better cities agreement will be signed in the near future. Can she tell the Assembly whether that will be before Christmas or after Christmas this year?

MS FOLLETT: I am aware of members' holiday requirements, Madam Speaker; but no, I cannot. It will be in the near future.

Hospital Waiting Lists

MRS CARNELL: My question is directed to the Minister for Health. Earlier in question time Mr Berry alluded to the money to reduce hospital waiting lists. As the Minister would be aware, he recently accepted $647,000 for the 1992-93 hospital access program to reduce waiting lists. In accepting this specific purpose grant, the Minister obviously had a clear objective of how many he would reduce the waiting list by in this financial year. Could the Minister please tell the Assembly how many of the 2,000 people currently on the waiting list will get hospital treatment as a result of this money?

MR BERRY: This is a delight. Fancy somebody with the so-called health qualifications of Mrs Carnell jumping up and asking a question like that. How many hip replacements can you get for $647,000 and how many tonsillectomies can you get? What a silly question!


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