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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 9 Hansard (29 August) . . Page.. 2793 ..

Mr Berry: Mr Speaker, I turn to the standing orders. They read as follows:

Questions may be put to a Minister relating to public affairs with which that Minister is officially connected, to proceedings pending in the Assembly or to any matter of administration for which that Minister is responsible.

Mr Speaker, at this point I would like to offer this box of chocolates, and I trust that it will help me in your consideration of that point of order. I regret, however, that it is past its use-by date.

MR SPEAKER: The same could be said for quite a few members. I might share it around.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, by quoting from the Canberra Times of 20 January I can show very clearly why this does have a lot to do with the ACT.

MR SPEAKER: I would ask you not to reflect on New South Wales, except in so far as it affects the ACT, Chief Minister.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, by quoting from the Canberra Times of 20 January I can show why this has real relevance, at least to those opposite. The quote is:

"The ACT Government should abandon its failed approach to slashing the elective surgery waiting lists in favour of the New South Wales strategy", the Opposition said today.

That is those opposite. It continued:

"The Chief Minister and Health Minister, Kate Carnell should be in Sydney studying how the New South Wales Government was working to improve health instead of in Brazil looking at soccer grounds."

Mr Speaker, it seems that those opposite thought that I should be in Sydney looking at waiting lists that are blowing through the ceiling, the closure of wards, and all the other things that are happening in New South Wales, rather than staying in the ACT with a waiting list policy that has achieved a reduction of 21 per cent in under 18 months, with 944 off the waiting list. It appears again that those opposite do not know what they are talking about.

Mr Humphries: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I am a bit concerned about these chocolates, Mr Speaker. If they are indeed past their use-by date, should they not be given to Mr Whitecross?

MR SPEAKER: There is no point of order.

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