Page 5686 - Week 15 - Thursday, 10 December 2009

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MS GALLAGHER: I thank Ms Porter for the supplementary. Some of it I have spoken about in this chamber previously, but can I assure the Assembly that Clare Holland House has not ever been used as a bargaining chip in the proposal. Following discussions with the Palliative Care Society, and as an outcome of feedback received through the consultation process, I did approach Little Company of Mary Health Care and asked them would they consider the proposal being separated. Little Company of Mary have indicated that they are not prepared to exit their role entirely in public healthcare in the ACT, that they wish to invest additional resources over and above the public contract into palliative care in the ACT and that this gives them security to do that. Overall, the government does think this is a good idea and it remains committed to the proposal.

It is also important to recognise that Little Company of Mary Health Care have been providing palliative care services in the ACT for many years and indeed have provided the service out at Clare Holland House since 2001. No-one is questioning the quality of care that Little Company of Mary have provided people at Clare Holland House so far. The proposal would see no change to these arrangements; that is, the delivery of palliative care service in the ACT. For families and patients using the service, there would be no noticeable change. The government would continue to fund the public palliative care service and Calvary would continue to operate the service.

The proposal will also not limit integration of palliative care into the broader health system; in fact, it offers opportunities to enhance integration of the service.

The Little Company of Mary have also indicated that they would not impose faith-based criteria on entrance to Clare Holland House; nor have they ever done that. There are standards for providing quality palliative care for all Australians that Little Company of Mary implement in their delivery of palliative care services right across the country.

The government is compiling all this feedback and we will be making an announcement shortly about the government’s final position.

MR HANSON: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Hanson.

MR HANSON: Minister, why did you keep the proposal hidden from the electorate at the last election whilst at the same time telling the electorate “all of our plans are on the table”?

MS GALLAGHER: This must be about the 20th time Mr Hanson has asked me that question. He either thinks I am a liar or he did not listen to the answer that I gave. The discussions with Little Company of Mary Health Care commenced in July 2008. They were very preliminary discussions about whether Little Company of Mary would even consider—

Mr Hanson: Why did you say “all of our plans are on the table” then?


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