Page 611 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 22 February 2012
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I refused at that point to agree to the project going ahead, as I wanted more work done on why the cost had gone from $11 million to over $30 million. I understood that there would be some increase in cost because we were looking to co-locate kitchen and staff areas with the adult acute inpatient unit if they both went ahead on the Canberra Hospital site. But I could not agree, on the information available to me, on an additional $20 million appropriation for that project. So we have now almost completed the needs analysis that has been done, and with a look from New South Wales Health, in terms of the cost of delivering their service, and running the ruler over the secure unit before we provide the appropriate level of funding for that project to proceed.
MS PORTER: Supplementary?
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Minister, did those opposite vote for funds to allow the mental health unit in the last budget?
MS GALLAGHER: I will have to check back on that one, but the position of the Canberra Liberals has been for some time to oppose appropriations for anything that the ACT government provides—not just capital, but anything, any service. They do not want to see the health services delivered. They do not want to see education services delivered. Whilst we will get on with the job, as we do, of delivering all the services that people require, at the same time we will be providing the infrastructure that we are going to need for the future.
MR SMYTH: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Minister, is it true that you removed funding from the budget for the secure mental health facility?
MS GALLAGHER: Has that just dawned on you, Mr Smyth? Yes, we did. It is there in the budget. You are supposedly the shadow treasurer. Yes, we did remove it from the budget. It was returned to Treasury while the project was adequately scoped.
Mr Smyth interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, you have asked your question.
MS GALLAGHER: Are we meant to put it in a special savings account, Mr Smyth? The question is ridiculous. Yes, it was removed. I was clear about that at the time. It is clear in the budget papers. The community sector understood this on budget night.
Mr Smyth interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order! One moment, Ms Gallagher. Stop the clocks, thank you. Mr Smyth, you are now warned for interjecting repeatedly during this question time.
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