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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 13 Hansard (20 November) . . Page.. 3825 ..
MR STANHOPE (continuing):
These are the range of issues that we have been left to clear up. We were left to clear up the nurses dispute, and to pay for it. We were left to actually clear up radiation therapy-to fund it and to provide an answer. We were left to actually pay for the necessary oncology equipment, the multi-leaf collimators, to actually enhance cancer treatment that is now so much part and parcel of what we do out there. We have provided a convalescent facility, something you have talked about and talked about but would not deliver-had no intention of delivering.
Mrs Dunne: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I would like to point out to you, Mr Speaker, that I asked a specific question about accident and emergency and bed availability and the impact that that had on people's hospital stay. I did not ask about radio oncology.
MR SPEAKER: I think you asked what the government had done.
MR STANHOPE: Yes, you did, you asked what the government had done. This is the point-you asked.
MR SPEAKER: I think the Minister for Health is telling you.
MR STANHOPE: That is absolutely right. But that is this attitude that the Liberal Party takes-what have you done about this little bit? This little bit depends on all these other bits. It is an integrated service and system we have; there is a range of priorities. The Liberal Party members jump up and say, "What have you done about waiting times?"-because it is not just about waiting times, is it? It is about all those other areas which you persistently underfunded-the areas that you did not fund and left to bleed to death.
I will mention something that was just confirmed two weeks ago, and we'll actually have to deal with that; it might be an issue for tomorrow-to have a really close look at mental health funding under the Liberal Party. Let us have a look at mental health funding under the Liberal Party-not a pretty sight. That is something else you have left us to clear up. You left us in a situation where we are 171/2 per cent worse off than any other jurisdiction in Australia in relation to per capita funding for mental health.
Mr Humphries: Oh, nonsense!
MR STANHOPE: It is not nonsense; it was confirmed two weeks ago. That is what you have bequeathed us. Then you say, "What are you doing about waiting lists?" You cannot look at it in isolation. There is a whole range of priorities. Mental health is a major priority. Are you prepared to sit and say it is not? That is what we funded as well.
Look what we did in relation to disability services. Have you forgotten about the Gallop report? Have you forgotten about the legacy you left us and the people of Canberra in relation to disability services? Have you forgotten about-
Mrs Dunne
: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I put the point of order to you again, Mr Speaker. I have been specific about asking what is the government doing about addressing the issues of extended waiting times in accident and emergency and the impact that this is having, which was drawn to the attention of the government and others
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