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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 7 Hansard (5 June) . . Page.. 1930 ..
MR STANHOPE (continuing):
your management. Those are the reasons that we take these responsibilities very seriously.
MR SMYTH: Is the Chief Minister responsible for the hospital?
MR SPEAKER: I think the Chief Minister answered that before.
MR STANHOPE: Yes, I did, but I am happy to-
Mr Smyth: Mr Speaker, he said he is responsible for health.
MR STANHOPE: I will put it in short sentences and short words for the member. I am responsible for the delivery of the health services in the ACT, as Minister for Health. I do not manage the hospital. I have no responsibility at all for the management of the hospital. Absolutely none. There is an act of parliament, of this Assembly, which requires that responsibility for the management of the Canberra Hospital-
Mr Smyth: Not responsible.
Mrs Dunne: What does section 13 mean, then?
MR STANHOPE: Your party passed the legislation. It is your act. It is your piece of legislation. You introduced it and you passed it. Your legislation says that responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Canberra Hospital vests in a board.
Mr Humphries: That did not stop you criticising Michael Moore for exactly the same thing, did it?
MR STANHOPE: I criticised Mr Moore for a lot of things, and justifiably so. I thank you for drawing attention to Mr Moore's failings, Mr Humphries. We did criticise him for a lot of things, and almost invariably with justification.
Have a look at the act: you have one section of it out, Mr Smyth. Have a look at the act and you will see the administrative structure that is created under that piece of legislation vests all responsibility for the management of the Canberra Hospital and community care in the health services board.
Mr Humphries: That is a cop-out.
MR STANHOPE: Why did you introduce and pass the legislation when you were in government, Mr Humphries?
Mr Humphries: You are responsible. You are the minister.
MR STANHOPE
: I have said that I am responsible. I am responsible for the delivery of quality health services to the people of Canberra. That is why I commissioned the Reid report. That is why, in two weeks time, I will be making significant proposals for the restructuring of health services in the ACT. That is why we have looked seriously at the
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