Page 3673 - Week 08 - Thursday, 19 August 2010
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because there were other options, we were the only party in this place that made that case—not the Greens. We will continue to hold the government to account, and we will continue to scrutinise this.
So, whichever option you finally put on the table, we will continue to scrutinise. I just make the point that, if you do give us the information in a timely manner, it will make it easier for us to come to the table with you and agree so that you can have this passed through the Assembly.
MR STANHOPE (Ginninderra—Chief Minister, Minister for Transport, Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Minister for Business and Economic Development, Minister for Land and Property Services, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs and Minister for the Arts and Heritage) (3.53): Mr Assistant Speaker, one really does need to correct some of the record in relation to the amazing spin that Mr Hanson seeks to put on what really was just opportunistic opposition for opposition’s sake politics that have been at the heart of everything that the Liberal Party have done and said in relation to this government’s desire to develop a truly integrated, united public hospital system for the people of the ACT.
It has always been about political point scoring. It has always been about opposition for opposition’s sake. It has always been about seeking political advantage. At no stage has it been about seeking to work with the government to enhance the health outcomes for the people of the ACT. At no stage, at absolutely no stage—
Mr Hanson: If we had accepted your proposition we would have wasted $77 million.
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Mr Hargreaves): Mr Hanson, you are on a warning.
MR STANHOPE: At the heart of everything that Mr Hanson now says, with the benefit of hindsight, is that the Liberal Party always knew—
Mr Hanson: The paper was released in November last year—
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, that is the last time. Next time I call you, you will be out of here.
MR STANHOPE: Mr Hanson always knew, anticipated and foresaw that a national accounting standard would change. The draft was only issued in April 2010. The entire debate in relation to the government’s position on this and the opposition’s oppositional position—the crass, political opposition for opposition’s sake that Mr Hanson put and traded on—was all in advance of April 2010.
The ACT government’s position on this, based on advice from Treasury and the Department of Health in order to seek the optimal outcomes which we need for this community, was based on explicit advice in relation to the accounting standards that apply in relation to investment in Calvary hospital, a hospital we do not own.
Interestingly, it is the precise same accounting standard that applied during six long years of Liberal government and which the Liberal government complied with. So we have this remarkable position—
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