Page 1562 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 31 March 2009
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what this report represents. It is a consensus of a broad range of scientists, biologists, people involved in grassland management, people involved in the whole range of areas that are relevant to these particular ecosystems. It was the bringing together of that extensive body of work through the reference group that the commissioner established which underpinned the real authority of this report. I thank her for that work.
In conclusion, I think it also highlights that the approach the government has adopted is one which is has sought to be a considered one, an informed one and one which is a long-term view. My predecessor as minister, Mr Stanhope, commissioned this report. He is to be congratulated for doing so because it provides us with a strong basis for future action and decision making. Equally, the work that has gone in over many months and years to develop the draft kangaroo management plan is also evidence of a long-term prospective being brought to these matters. The government is thankful for the generally supportive comments of members of the Assembly in relation to these two reports. I thank members for their contribution.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Debate interrupted in accordance with standing order 74 and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour.
Sitting suspended from 11.52 am to 2 pm.
Questions without notice
Children—care and protection
MR SESELJA: My question is to the Minister for Children and Young People. Minister, on 2 July last year in this place Mr Smyth asked the then Minister for Children and Young People why qualified and experienced Australian workers had been told not to bother applying for positions in the child care and protection agency. Ms Gallagher, in answering the question, said:
… we will be able to fill the vacancies … we have been unable to fill locally or nationally …
Minister, why has the government recruited British workers to replace Australian workers?
MR BARR: The government has not.
Hospitals—dischargeable patients
MS HUNTER: My question is to the Minister for Health and concerns bed blockage at the Canberra Hospital. A couple of cases were highlighted in the Canberra Times at the weekend. Can the minister advise the Assembly of the number of dischargeable patients presently in ACT hospitals, the length of time those patients have been waiting for appropriate community-based services and the cost to the health budget of this bed blockage?
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