Page 1316 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 27 March 2012
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As we look to our second century as a city we know that cities compete for people and that this city will continue on its strong path of economic growth and social inclusion if we maintain our policy settings, our investment in health and education, our investment in the potential of our community. It is why Canberra is the best city in this country and it is why so many people choose to live in our city; why we have been seeing above average levels of population growth. And, if those opposite do not believe that they live in the greatest city in Australia, what are they doing in this chamber?
MR HANSON: Supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Minister, do you consider that the longest elective surgery waiting times in the nation, the longest ED waiting times in the nation, the lowest number of GPs per capita in Australia, the lowest rates of bulk billing and the highest costs for visiting a GP in Australia to be good health services?
MR BARR: The ACT health system is the envy of the nation. It provides the highest quality health care of any jurisdiction and all of the data that demonstrates this is, of course, publicly available and debated in this place regularly. We have the highest life expectancy of any jurisdiction. We have the healthiest population. We have the most active participants in sport and recreation. We have a wonderful community—
Mr Hanson: Point of order, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Hanson on a point of order. One moment; stop the clock.
Mr Hanson: It is on a point of relevance. The question was directly about elective surgery waiting lists, emergency department waiting times and the number of GPs, not about sport and recreation.
Mr Hargreaves: On the point of order, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Hargreaves.
Mr Hargreaves: The supplementary was about the health of the economy as well as specific issues that are part of it.
MR SPEAKER: I think there is no point of order at this stage, Mr Hanson. Your list of indicators was quite wide and I think that gives the minister a chance to respond equally widely.
MR BARR: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Mr Hanson may not want to hear this. He may not agree that we live in a fantastic community. If so, I challenge him—he has the opportunity regularly in this place—to say that he does not think this city is any good. If that is the position—
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