Page 1334 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 10 May 1994
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I look at each application on its merits, as it comes before me, in order to deliver the best form of health care to the people of Canberra. That has meant that I have looked at the merits of a number of applications from those two not-for-profit community based private hospitals. I have approved additional beds. Mrs Carnell makes the point that I have approved an increase in beds of some 20 per cent. As the Liberal Party said four years ago that a 10 per cent increase would solve all our problems, it is abundantly clear that I have doubly solved all our problems. I assume that, as the Liberal Party has nothing more to say about health, they will say no more.
MRS CARNELL: I ask a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. It is just a simple question. Has there or has there not been a change in Labor Party health policy since you took over, Minister?
MR CONNOLLY: Madam Speaker, the Labor Party has always been committed to a strong public sector, as I continue to be committed to a strong public sector, with a viable private sector alongside.
ACT Health - Andersen Report
MS ELLIS: Madam Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister for Health. Having now received the Andersen report into ACT Health, can the Minister inform the Assembly what the recommendations contained in the report are? Secondly, what recommendations does the Minister plan to implement? Thirdly, how does he intend to implement them?
MR CONNOLLY: There was considerable media publicity as a result of a leaked copy of the report of Andersen Consulting, which is of course Arthur Andersen, a very well-known international firm of accountants and management consultants. In order to save the Opposition from two weeks of calling for me to table it, I am quite happy to table that document, Madam Speaker. Indeed, if members are interested in obtaining copies of this document, which is a fairly hefty tome and fairly complex reading, copies are available from my office. As was reported quite widely in the media, the principal findings were that we have a problem with financial control and have had for over a decade. Mr Humphries had no answer to that when he was Minister, and we are still moving towards an answer. There is no magic wand in this area, but a clear recommendation which I intend to follow through on is that we need to establish what they have called an interim financial board of control.
Mrs Carnell: That is like a board of health.
MR CONNOLLY: No, it is not a board of health, Mrs Carnell. This is not an exercise in playing around with terms; this is about putting a body together to focus on the finances of the agency. Last week we established a resource management committee, chaired by the general manager of Woden Valley Hospital. The appointment we made to that chair of the hospital was widely welcomed by everybody who knows something about the system, namely, the AMA, the Australian Nursing Federation - but not Mr Humphries - the director of finance at Woden, the general manager of resources and representatives from ACT Treasury.
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