Page 1033 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 15 March 2005
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Mr Speaker, I seek leave to table this letter, if I could?
Leave not granted.
MR SESELJA: That is very disappointing and I would also call on the planning minister to table his letter. I am prepared to table this to show where it comes from. I call on Mr Corbell to do the same thing. The reason I read that out, and the reason I raise this issue is that I wanted to highlight the credibility problem that Mr Corbell has brought upon himself by reading a staffer’s letter to the Assembly and passing it off as just another grateful constituent.
Mr Corbell was saying to us, “Look don’t take my word for it; the hospital is doing really well and I have this independent constituent writing to me.” Of course, when he got found out he was very embarrassed, and rightly so. I would be embarrassed, too, if I had done the same thing.
I think this raises the bigger issue of credibility. We had Mr Corbell present a ministerial statement here last week and he spoke—I can only assume, quite genuinely—of the feedback that the government had had from constituents about the ACTION bus services, in particular the Xpresso bus service in Weston Creek.
How are we to believe this is true, when we see him reading letters from staffers of Labor MLAs? How do we know where this constituent feedback came from? Was it at a Labor Party branch meeting? Was it a caucus meeting? I mean, who knows? I think Mr Corbell has brought on himself an unnecessary credibility problem and I just highlight that for the house. Once again, I call on Mr Corbell to table the letter.
Canberra Hospital—constituent feedback
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Minister for Health and Minister for Planning) (4.50): Mr Speaker, I would like to read to members a letter I recently received from a constituent regarding the service at the Canberra Hospital. It reads:
Dear Minister
I am very aware that people are quick to contact you when they have some problems or bad news but not so quick with good news. Recently I had to spend some time in Canberra Hospital. That is not good news. On Saturday, 4 April I was transferred by ambulance from Queanbeyan Hospital to Canberra Hospital at about 11.30 pm. From the time I arrived until I was discharged on Thursday I received nothing but wonderful treatment. The team in emergency provided me with timely and professional care and, indeed, showed a great deal of patience with me. I have nothing but praise for all the doctors and especially the nurses that provided me with the care and attention in all areas of the hospital during my time with them. At all times, I was treated by caring, cheerful, sympathetic professionals.
I would appreciate it if you would pass my thanks to the management at the Canberra Hospital.
I raise these issues in the adjournment debate simply to highlight to members the diversity of experiences that people have in our health care system and the many
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