Page 3134 - Week 07 - Thursday, 1 July 2010
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Mr Smyth: Whose false opening was it?
Mr Hanson: Whose fault was that?
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Order! Mr Hanson, just because the others are talking you do not have to join in. You have had enough. You have just joined us. Take your lead from Mrs Dunne who, for once, is being quiet. So you can do it too. Mr Corbell, you have the floor.
Mr Hanson: He is picking on me, now.
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: I remind you that you are on a warning.
MR CORBELL: The reasons for the delay were subject to a detailed independent legal arbitration between the territory, the contractor and its subcontractors. That independent legally binding arbitration determined that the delays were the result of the failure of the contractor to properly manage the installation of the security system. That is the truth, Mr Assistant Speaker, and no amount—
Mrs Dunne: That’s your version of the truth.
MR CORBELL: No amount of manoeuvring, no amount of myth-making on the part of the Liberal Party can avoid that fundamental fact. An independent legal arbiter determined that the reason for the delay, and therefore the legal obligation on the part of the contractor to pay compensation to the territory, was the contractor’s failure to deliver the system in accordance with the territory’s specifications. That is the fact of the matter.
I turn to the issue of emergency services. Emergency services are provided for generously in this budget. I am grateful for the support of my colleagues to see additional financing, particularly for the ACT Ambulance Service. The ACT Ambulance Service will receive over $5 million and 11 new full-time positions to help manage demand and to maintain and improve response times for the community when it comes to the delivery of essential emergency medical response.
This funding will provide for additional positions in the comcen to take the calls when they are received through triple zero to give a more detailed level of clinical triage so that ambulances are sent to the most pressing and urgent of cases, that demand and response is accorded appropriate priority, and that those cases that do not require ambulance attendance are appropriately directed to services that can provide support and assistance. This has been recognised as an appropriate way to manage demand. A number of other leading ambulance services in the country are acting in this manner, particularly in Victoria, and the government is pleased to be able to provide this assistance.
We continue to take the steps that a number of members have outlined in relation to improvements in community safety. The introduction of the new liquor bill, which will be debated by this Assembly in due course, will deal with those matters. The additional funding that is being provided will see more police on the beat to deal with alcohol-related violence in our city.
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