Page 4843 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 11 November 2009
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everybody involved in them and take care and caution with our comments in public. That is what I have been trying to do on this.
That is not discounting anyone’s anxiety or the trauma that has been involved in this, but, as a group of leaders, could we please just make sure that the debate stays at a mature level, respects everybody who is involved in it and expresses concern for everybody who is involved in it. There is a genuine anxiety that there are individuals who may be vilified in this community because of the level of debate that has occurred over this episode. If we could just think about that for a moment, I think the Assembly would be the right place for those considerations to start. As leaders, we need to be the ones that are managing that debate.
I think the amendment addresses the concerns that Mr Hanson has. If Mr Hanson wants a private briefing on the individual circumstances, I am very happy to arrange it. That has not been asked for prior to this. I do not think that I am in a position where I can bring back a review about an individual circumstance to this Assembly for further public debate. I do not think it is in the interests of anyone involved, but I am very happy to provide Mr Hanson with the review work that is undertaken around the management of this particular case.
I move the amendment circulated in my name:
Omit all words after “That this Assembly”, substitute:
“(1) notes:
(a) that a number of people, including new born infants, were recently exposed to the risk of being infected by tuberculosis at The Canberra Hospital; and
(b) that protocols and policies regarding partners staying overnight in shared postnatal wards in ACT public hospitals need to be flexible to allow for the best interests of the family depending on their individual circumstances; and
(2) calls on the ACT Health Minister to:
(a) clarify policies and protocols with regard to partners staying overnight in shared postnatal wards in ACT public hospitals; and
(b) review the circumstances of the recent case where newborn infants were exposed to tuberculosis and identify if any policies or protocols were breached”.
MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (3.16): This is obviously a very serious case in issue and one that, as we have heard, has caused stress and worry for all the people involved. I also think that we do need to have some understanding of the situation and respect the rights and privacy of all the people in this case. If Mr Hanson does want to go into further detail, I would suggest that he secure a private briefing with representatives of ACT Health, because we do need to remember that we are talking
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