Page 3030 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 17 October 2007
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to the press release, it must be said—and one regrets the need to have to say it—the shadow minister for health felt the need to rush down here during the adjournment debate last night to put something on the public record, because she knew what she was saying was defamatory. I think, Mr Speaker, in the context of an abuse of the standing orders and an abuse of privilege, the efforts of the shadow minister for health last night, rushing in here after 6 o’clock, to lay on the record—
Mrs Burke: Oh, we are touchy, aren’t we?
MR STANHOPE: I am not touchy about it, but I do have a serious issue about the extent to which members, Mrs Burke most particularly in this case, seek, through parliamentary privilege, inappropriately to cover themselves against defamatory statements which they then go out into the public, outside this place, to make in relation to medical practitioners. I would be extremely surprised if there is not a note in the mail to Mrs Burke and perhaps to the Canberra Times in relation to the, quite clearly, defamatory imputations—
Mrs Burke: Of whom?
MR SPEAKER: I warn you, Mrs Burke.
MR STANHOPE: that are contained in some of the remarks that have been made by Mrs Burke in relation to alleged incompetence by identifiable specialists at the Canberra Hospital as a result of the remarks she made in this place and outside this place yesterday. (Time expired.)
Health—oral and maxillofacial surgery
MRS BURKE: My question is to the Acting Minister for Health, Mr Corbell—or should I say minister for health, as there is nobody acting. I am advised that 14 cases where patients have alleged they received less than optimal oral and maxillofacial surgery outcomes at the Canberra Hospital have now been investigated by an ACT health committee. Minister, will you now advise the Assembly of the outcome of that investigation? If not, why not?
MR CORBELL: As the shadow minister should be aware—and I am surprised she is not aware—clinical privileges committees are protected by privilege. They have limited privilege given to them by legislation. That is to ensure the confidentiality of the proceedings and to enable matters to be investigated promptly and thoroughly. I am not at liberty to disclose the proceedings of clinical privileges committees which have privilege attached to their operations, and that is why I am unable to provide further information to Mrs Burke.
MR SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mrs Burke?
MRS BURKE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, why is there still no oral and maxillofacial surgeon at the Canberra Hospital and what exactly is the hold-up in appointing one?
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