Page 2689 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 6 June 2012
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MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Hanson!
MS GALLAGHER: Yes, the federal Liberal Party started that, after years of starving medical schools, which led to the shortage.
Opposition members interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: Again, do not let the facts get in the way, Mr Hanson. Yes, there was no growth in medical students when there needed to be. They fixed it and Rudd, as Prime Minister, put more effort in there. And now we have got the situation where we will have more doctors than we have training places, but overall it is a positive for the system and we are seeing improvements in the GP rates.
Indeed, Mr Hanson, I think if you go back you will also find that the GP bulk-billing rate was the lowest in the country in 2001 as well—and those are not issues that are within the control of the ACT government or within our responsibility. But, again, do not let a good fact get in the way of a vicious argument.
Members interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: It is actually my time to speak at the moment. Mr Doszpot and all of you can have your opportunity. But—
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Ms Gallagher—
MS GALLAGHER: in terms of the allegations that Mr Hanson—
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Stop the clock, please. Ms Gallagher, sit down. The noise is incredible and I can hardly hear what Ms Gallagher is saying. Obviously you are not interested in what she is saying. I think other members might be. It is just not acceptable, the way you are behaving. So the next person to interject, loudly or otherwise, across the chamber I will warn, because I have asked you to hear the minister in silence before and you have refused to do this.
Mr Seselja: Point—
MS GALLAGHER: Sit down, Mr Seselja.
Mr Seselja: I am taking a point of order, so thank you for your advice, Ms Gallagher. The point of order, Deputy Speaker, is that no-one actually has interjected since you directed that the Canberra Liberals cannot interject when the Chief Minister is speaking. There was conversation, which is pretty common in this place, and Ms Gallagher was pretty clearly heard. So I am not quite sure what the new standard is when the Chief Minister is upset about people speaking across the chamber, but it does seem extraordinary. Conversations go on in this place all the time. No-one has interjected since you asked us not to. Are you really asking us to accept that the new standard for a sensitive Chief Minister is complete silence when she is speaking?
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