Page 132 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 16 February 2011
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serious as the issues revealed in the Auditor-General’s report are, they essentially go to issues of process.
Have a look at some of the outcomes, some of the issues that the minister raised in her response to this particular motion. Look at the outcomes achieved in our public health system, most particularly through our public hospitals—easily the best in Australia in the delivery of outstandingly high-quality health care. Across the board, we deliver to our citizens the best health care of any jurisdiction in Australia, bar none. Those are the outcomes. You know they are, and it would be appropriate for you, from time to time, to acknowledge the quality of services that are delivered here within the territory and the responsibility which this minister, Katy Gallagher, the Deputy Chief Minister, can claim for delivering those outstanding results—accepting always, as we do, that there is always more to be done and there are areas where we do need to improve our performance.
In response, just let me dwell on the nonsense that has been proposed to support this particular motion. There has been no effort, in supporting the motion, to draw a link between an Auditor-General’s report and the minister’s performance—absolutely no attempt or effort actually to connect the two. It is just an opportunity for a bit of opposition for opposition’s sake, a bit of knocking down, a bit of point scoring. It is another censure motion in another sitting week. How predictable and how boring. Once again, it is an easy, convenient way for Mr Hanson to avoid doing any work or seeking to understand exactly what is involved in running a health system. By every utterance, every time he opens his mouth, he clearly displays the depth of his ignorance in relation to issues around governance and the management of a health system.
We have as a major achievement—driven entirely by the minister—the ACT capital asset development plan, currently a centrepiece, a massive program. We have the opening of additional operating theatres and an additional 43 hospital beds funded in the last year. We have now overtaken and made up for the 123 beds that the Liberals closed, which was the starting point when we came into government. Never forget that.
Ms Gallagher: It was 114.
MR STANHOPE: It was 114. We had to open 114 beds before we could start the process of rebuilding the health system. In the last year, we completed and opened a new six-bed mental health assessment unit and the walk-in centre at the Canberra Hospital—Australia leading. There was the completion and commissioning of a 16-bed critical care unit at Calvary Hospital. (Time expired.)
MR COE (Ginninderra) (11.01): I support Mr Hanson’s motion to censure the health minister because the people of Canberra deserve better than the health services this minister presides over. For too long the people of Canberra and the region have suffered at the hands of a health minister who refuses to take responsibility for her actions.
The only person here who seems to take responsibility for Ms Gallagher’s actions is in fact Ms Bresnan. It is Ms Bresnan here who is running defence for Ms Gallagher. I
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