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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 14 Hansard (11 December) . . Page.. 4288 ..


Mr Smyth: I did.

MR STANHOPE: I have not heard it mentioned. There is a statement here on page 81, under monitoring and reporting:

The ACT Health Council will be charged with monitoring and reporting on progress and implementing the strategies and actions set out in the Health Action Plan.

The Council will be asked to refine the draft set of key performance indicators in the Plan and to monitor progress.

That is the task we give that peak council. I think the motion and the amendments that we are drafting today effectively render irrelevant the role of that council.

MS TUCKER (5.31): I will speak to Mr Smyth's amendment, and also generally to my amendment. I will not be supporting Mr Smyth's amendment because I think the costing question will be dealt with in estimates and through the budget process. We will have the opportunity to do that. My understanding of an implementation strategy is that it would not normally have costings connected to it.

I do want to respond to a couple of points made by the Chief Minister. I am very well aware of the role of the Health Council. When I read the plan, and still when I reread it, I cannot see how my amendment is disrespectful in any way to its role.

MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: You have spoken to your own amendment, Ms Tucker. Try to restrict the subject of your speech to Mr Smyth's amendment. You can talk about the Health Council, though.

MS TUCKER: Can't I speak twice to my amendment?

MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: No, you do not get to close an amendment, apparently.

MS TUCKER: No, I know I don't get to close; I just thought I could speak twice.

MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: We are discussing a motion. We are not in the detail stage. That is the difference.

MS TUCKER: Okay. I will talk about-

MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Talk about Mr Smyth's amendment. It is all right.

MS TUCKER: Yes, it is not quite what I wanted to talk about, though.

MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Deal with it in a broad sense.

MS TUCKER

: The question of costing as related to the role of the council is obviously very interesting, because ACTCOSS made the comment at the health action plan launch that there will be a lot of pressure on the Health Council. There is the potential for them to be given the task of driving policy and finding money and, if council members are


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