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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 8 Hansard (27 August) . . Page.. 2515 ..

Mr Berry: What use is the Health Minister?

MRS CARNELL: What use is the Health Complaints Commissioner?

Mr Berry: No; what use is the Health Minister?

MR SPEAKER: Order!

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, those opposite might like to have a look at the legislation. The legislation that was enacted - to my knowledge, under those opposite - for the Health Complaints Commissioner does not allow the Health Minister to direct the commissioner.

Mr Corbell: If you cared you would have kept on doing something about it.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, those opposite put the legislation in place. We supported it. There is no capacity under the legislation to direct the commissioner. By the way, nor should there be, because it is important that a Health Complaints Commissioner cannot be told by a Minister - - -

Mr Corbell: We are not asking you to direct; we are asking you to - - -

MR SPEAKER: Mr Corbell, I warn you, too.

MRS CARNELL: A Health Complaints Commissioner cannot be told by a Health Minister, "Look, stop that investigation, Health Complaints Commissioner".

Ms McRae: So you are not going to write to them again?

MRS CARNELL: I have actually, of recent date - - -

Ms McRae: So you are not going to write to them?

MRS CARNELL: Oh, heavens, yes. We actually have regular discussions on this. I actually had another meeting with the - - -

Ms McRae: Well, why didn't you tell us that? Why don't you tell us that?

MRS CARNELL: Because we have not yet got the report. I do not think it is acceptable. We are in constant touch with the Health Complaints Commissioner with regard to speeding up these things. I had a meeting with the chairman of the Medical Board. But again, under the legislation, I have no capacity to direct them, and, again, nor should I, because you really step into very dangerous waters when a Minister can tell a Health Complaints Commissioner what they should investigate and when.

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