Page 4295 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 7 December 1993
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
... called on other ACT business groups to take a stand on the issue to halt the "fleecing" of dollars from ACT businesses and consumers by oil companies.
"It is scandalous that the ACT is being held to ransom. The disposable dollars available to [businesses] and retail stores are being significantly reduced because of the actions by oil companies in charging unjustifiable prices for petrol ...
Times are tough enough for most families without this sort of practice occurring by multinational companies who should know better ...
This was not a press release by a union or a group of Labor Party supporters but a press release from the Australian Hotels Association recognising the massive impact this would have on business. When the price of petrol went up by less than half a cent as a result of some excise changes, Mr Humphries squawked and carried on about the devastating impact this would have on local business. We have pulled the price down by nearly 10c. What that means is that $10m to $12m is going to stay in this community, not in the pockets of the oil companies in Sydney, and that is good news for business and consumers.
Narrabundah Health Centre
MR WESTENDE: My question without notice is directed to the Minister for Health. I refer the Minister to his previous answer about the permanent transfer of doctors from the Narrabundah Health Centre to the Phillip Health Centre, leaving Narrabundah understaffed. Is the Minister aware that the replacement doctor from the Melba Health Centre was supposed to be transferred to the Narrabundah Health Centre but that this was refused after it became apparent that Melba is in the Minister's electorate?
Mr De Domenico: This will be a beauty; this will be the great answer.
MR BERRY: This will be a beauty, so if you keep your mouth shut and listen you will get the benefit of it. The fact of the matter is, as I said in answer to the earlier question on this matter, that we have a commitment to the community medical practitioner program; the Liberals do not. The Liberals usually echo the AMA on this score. The AMA have been critical of the CMP program, and Mrs Carnell has been an advocate for its demise. Those are the facts of the matter. She has even made the accusation that it is inefficient, that it uses too many resources; but they bulkbill, and the Liberals have never been supporters of bulkbilling. They hate it. They will do everything they possibly can to stop CMPs or anybody else from bulkbilling.
Mrs Carnell: Yes. Just say yes, and sit down.
MR BERRY: Of course they will; she said yes, they will stop them. As to the movement of the CMPs around the program, I will explain again that a doctor at the Phillip Health Centre has gone on a combination of leave. A doctor has gone from Narrabundah to Phillip, and if people specifically want to see that doctor
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .