Page 3332 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 20 August 2008
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Mr Stanhope: On a point of order then, Mr Speaker. On a point of relevance, we are not sure on the point of relevance whether Mr Seselja is talking about bulk-billing centres or just medical centres. I think we need the point clarified or the contribution is not relevant. Are these bulk-billing clinics or not?
MR SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Stanhope: Are they bulk-billing clinics or not?
MR SPEAKER: Chief Minister, resume your seat. The member is speaking to the amendment by Ms Gallagher. The question is that the amendment be agreed to.
MR SESELJA: Indeed, and we are speaking to the amendment and we know that we get these kind of—
MR SPEAKER: And the member is directing his comments through the chair. No finger pointing.
MR SESELJA: As I am, Mr Speaker, and as I will. It is embarrassing for the Chief Minister, which is why we see the sensitivity and why we see this constant interjection. He is embarrassed that his health minister, on his watch, has done nothing to address these issues. They have done nothing to address the issues of the lack of health care, lack of GPs and the lack of after-hours service to the people in the outlying areas of Canberra.
Whether it is the people of south Tuggeranong, whether it is the people of Gungahlin, whether is the people of west Belconnen, they are not being well served by this government. They are not being well served by this health minister and they are not being well served by this Chief Minister when it comes to health services in their area. Mr Speaker, there is a clear difference. There is a clear difference in approach.
Mr Stanhope: Is ours illegal?
MR SESELJA: We have the do-nothing, can’t-do approach of this government and we have clear ideas put out there, as opposed to the vague, uncosted promises that we have seen from the other side. We have clear ideas to get a solution to the issues. People actually want to see some commitment to tackle the difficult issues we have, not a minister who continues to say she cannot do anything about it, a minister who continues to wash her hands of the real problems in the health system.
Mr Speaker, we know that there are no easy fixes to the health system but there are things that we can do and this is a government that is asleep at the wheel. We know it is because the minister keeps telling us that there is nothing she can do. Well, there is nothing she can do, unfortunately, nothing that she will do. There is something that can be done and we will do it.
MR SPEAKER: The member’s time has expired. The question is that the amendment be agreed to.
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