Page 2909 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 14 September 1994
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But, Madam Speaker, to provide paediatric in-patient services - Mrs Carnell speaks of just overnight services - would mean providing second-rate paediatric medicine for the people of North Canberra, and that is something that we will never do. We will take advice on issues such as this from the Australian College of Paediatrics and from specialists in the area, and we will make decisions in the interests of the better medical treatment of the Canberra public. We will avoid the cheap, foolish and silly political statements that Mrs Carnell and some of her more enthusiastic Liberal candidates like to make in running around Belconnen. Madam Speaker, I wait for the promise to provide a paediatrics ward in Tuggeranong as an add-on to the hospital that, on one particularly inspired occasion when somebody shoved a camera in front of her, Mrs Carnell promised to provide to the people of Tuggeranong.
Bushfire Prevention Measures
MR STEFANIAK: My question is directed to the Minister for the Environment. As we all know, the ACT Government is currently burning off in areas around Canberra. Could the Minister advise why this burning off is occurring in September, given that you have just declared a drought and also the fact that it is springtime, when birds are building their nests? The burn-off really should have occurred during the winter months of June and July, when there were better climatic conditions and there was little, if any, growth.
MR WOOD: Madam Speaker, the answer is quite simple. It is the appropriate time to do it. The grass is in a burnable state. Earlier, it was less so. This is the usual time for such activity. It is ahead of what appears to be a very threatening bushfire season. I am getting innumerable requests from the community, asking that exactly this be done. We are taking this measure in the interests of the bush capital. There is so much bush around the city that we need to ensure that the bushfire risk is contained. I am informed that this burning is entirely consistent with past patterns. I note what you say about springtime and such matters, but this is an entirely appropriate time to do it.
Farm Vehicles - Registration
MR MOORE: My question is addressed to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, I notice that you reacted with speed and efficiency to resolve the grievance of tourist bus operators in the ACT, who publicly complained of the high cost of registering their vehicles in the ACT when compared with New South Wales. Can you explain why you failed to respond to the exact same arguments which I presented to you several months ago in relation to the registration of farm vehicles in the ACT?
MS FOLLETT: I thank Mr Moore for the question, Madam Speaker. I have that matter on my desk at the moment. I will take his question on notice. I need to consult with my colleague Mr Lamont, who was also instrumental in alleviating the plight of the small tourist bus operators. I will provide Mr Moore with a response as soon as I can.
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