Page 3638 - Week 12 - Thursday, 13 October 1994
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MR WOOD: Madam Speaker, this mock indignation from Mr Moore! I have not heard a word from him on this. He did bring out a report, it is true, and now we have this indignation about this. Mr Moore knows that just at this moment he can say the word "kangaroos" and he is going to get some coverage. I have done two or three media interviews on kangaroos today, and I did last week and the week before. It is a very topical subject and Mr Moore is very keen to have that publicity. He was obviously quite chuffed about something in the paper today. The treatment of kangaroos is a serious matter. It is a significant issue that has had long examination - there is no question about that - and I think it is a level of examination and consideration that the subject requires.
MR MOORE: I have a supplementary question, Madam Speaker, following the non-answer from the Minister. All right, Minister; what is it that prevents you from actually making a decision, and what advice has your department given you on this issue?
MR WOOD: Mr Moore, I suggest that you contain yourself. I will be coming back to this Assembly. I will come back and you will hear the result of the appropriate amount of consideration we have given to this soon enough.
Public Hospitals - Bed Numbers
MR DE DOMENICO: Madam Speaker, my question without notice is directed to the Minister for Health. Minister, the Department of Health annual report for 1993-94 shows on page 26 that the number of available public hospital beds at both Woden Valley and Calvary public hospitals at the end of June was 732. The advice tabled by you yesterday, Minister, under the heading "Bed numbers reconciliation", states that the two hospitals have a combined total of 776 public hospital beds. Is it not a fact that this increase of 44 beds has been achieved by, firstly, the inclusion of 20 nursing home beds, not hospital beds, at Calvary for the first time, even though these are not normally counted; secondly, the inclusion of up to 20 neonatal cots at Woden Valley Hospital for the first time, even though these have not been counted before; and, thirdly, the inaccurate claim that there are 56 paediatric beds open at Woden Valley Hospital when there are only 52 staffed beds available? Minister, when will you admit that there are only about 560 staffed and available public hospital beds at Woden Valley - a decrease of 45 from the 605 that were available in June 1993 - and only 172 public hospital beds at Calvary?
MR CONNOLLY: Madam Speaker, if that was what I was advised by the department, I admit it. I tell the Assembly what the department advises me on their basis of counting beds. What I advised you yesterday, and tabled in this place, was the breakdown. Mr Fraser says:
As I advised previously, there are currently 787 public hospital beds ...
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