Page 12 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 22 February 1994
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that the development of obstetric services in the private sector will improve the quality of services to women. One thing you can rest assured of is that it will be more expensive and it will not be accessible for all ACT residents. Those issues are being considered against the background of the decision which was made by Mr Humphries, apparently without consideration of those issues. A decision on the licensing of those beds will be made against that background.
MR HUMPHRIES: I ask a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. I think the Minister misses the point. If the Minister disagreed with the decision taken by the Alliance Government, why did he not inform John James Hospital in June 1991, when he became Minister, that they should not proceed with the building of those new beds, rather than wait until three years and several hundred thousand dollars later before advising them of this change of policy? Will the Minister also admit that this letter advising the John James Hospital of the Government's change of mind arrived during the VMOs dispute and in fact was an act of brinkmanship designed to put pressure on ACT doctors?
MR BERRY: There are two separate issues. The doctors dispute was one of the most disgraceful actions that we have seen in the ACT - a major attack on the community and, in particular, those in our community who are sick.
Mr Humphries: Can you answer the question? This is getting back at them, is it?
MR BERRY: I have to say to Mr Humphries that it had nothing to do with it.
Mr Humphries: So why did you not tell them three years ago?
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Humphries, let the Minister answer the question.
MR BERRY: Mr Humphries will now go away and say that I did not answer the question. On ABC radio this morning he said, "Mr Berry has not answered a question for years". What a big one! He knows, and the rest of the community knows, that I have stood up here day after day and answered every question that this mob can throw at me. I have to say, and I am pleased to say, that very few of them made you happy. If you are waiting for answers from me that make you happy, do not hold your breath. Do not hold your breath, members, because it is not going to happen.
When it comes to the obstetric services which were approved by Mr Humphries, I say again that they very obviously were approved without proper consideration. In relation to the further licensing of those beds, the matter is still under consideration against the background of all of those issues that I mentioned when Mr Humphries raised the question in the first place.
Mr Humphries: Can you answer the question?
MR BERRY: I have.
Ms Follett: I ask that further questions be placed on the notice paper, Madam Speaker.
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