Page 4835 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 11 November 2009

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video


Mr Hanson: You should be able to work that one out. It is only $77 million.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Hanson, your interjections are too loud and too frequent.

MS GALLAGHER: Regardless of how it is financed—this is the issue that the opposition cannot get away from—the financial analysis from Treasury shows that this is the most cost-effective way to manage the future health needs of our community. That is what the opposition are ignoring. They are ignoring the financial analysis—

Mr Hanson: That is not what it says.

MS GALLAGHER: Yes, it does, Mr Hanson. We know you got caught up on whether or not there should be a capital upgrades component factored into the financial analysis. We know we got stuck on that. For about half an hour of the briefing we had “do we really need to have a capital upgrade component when you are building a new hospital?” We did get to the minutiae, but the real issue of the financial analysis—

Mr Seselja: She got upset in that briefing, didn’t she?

Mr Coe: She got very twitchy.

Mr Hanson: Sorry, you don’t like us scrutinising you?

MS GALLAGHER: I have no problem being scrutinised at all, Mr Hanson. I think if anyone reviews the last year of question time they will see that there is no problem with the level of scrutiny that is being required of me. I have no problem with it at all. But the issue is that however we finance this purchase of the hospital, if it goes ahead, it is a matter for the budget. But let us remember, Mr Hanson, that we get something in return. Under the scenario that the Liberals are supporting—

Opposition members interjecting—

MR SPEAKER: Order! Ms Gallagher, one moment, please. Stop the clock, Clerk. Mr Coe, Mr Seselja and Mr Hanson, you are all interjecting too much and too loudly today. You are very close to the edge. Let us continue with question time, thank you.

MS GALLAGHER: Thank you, Mr Speaker. However we finance the sale, if it goes ahead with the support of this Assembly, we get something back in return.

Mr Coe: Is Jon the Wizard of Oz?

MR SPEAKER: Sorry, Ms Gallagher. Stop the clock. I am warning you, Mr Coe. Only 10 seconds ago I made the observation that question time is being conducted in an unsuitable manner. You are now warned.

MS GALLAGHER: If we purchase Calvary Public Hospital for $77 million we get an asset returned to the ACT community of the same value. If we support the


Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video