Page 5707 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 6 December 2011

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in the main we have seen a deterioration over a very long period of time of health stats. And suddenly the Chief Minister produces a set of stats that contradicts that trend.

Mr Hanson had open on his computer the statement that was released publicly, and it showed a significant decline in the numbers at Calvary. Ms Gallagher gets up and says: “Oh no, you’re wrong. My numbers say it’s improved.” We do not have access to those numbers. The test for you, minister, is, if you are sure of your numbers, table them. If you are not sure of your numbers, you should not use them; it is inappropriate. So if you are going to quote it, be prepared to table it. This document should be tabled now, Mr Speaker.

MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Chief Minister, Minister for Health and Minister for Territory and Municipal Services) (2.49): I have said I will table the table—

Mr Seselja: No, the one you were quoting from.

Mr Smyth: No. I want the document.

MS GALLAGHER: So now you do not want the information that I read out.

Mr Smyth: No. I want the document.

MS GALLAGHER: I am happy to give you the information. I am very happy to give it to you. The page I was reading from has a number of my doodles on it. I have a few flowers. I have a few triangles that I have covered in. I have even written the word ‘AIHW’ down. I am merely saying that I am happy to table the report with the data that I read from. I am happy to do that. I will have it provided before the end of question time.

Mr Hanson: Just table the document. What else is on it?

MR SPEAKER: Order!

MS GALLAGHER: Nothing.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Corbell has the floor.

MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development) (2.50): I think the Chief Minister has indicated her desire to try and facilitate access to the information that Mr Smyth seeks. It is not necessary to order the tabling of the document in the way proposed by Mr Smyth. I draw to members’ attention the companion to the standing orders produced by the Assembly Secretariat and, in particular, to page 260 that deals with the issue of the application of standing order 213 and the tabling of quoted documents.

It is worth highlighting that in 1995 the companion notes that the then Minister for Education and Training—I believe it was Mr Stefaniak—made the following point:


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