Page 72 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 27 November 2012
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Mr Hanson: Well, what does it cost?
MS GALLAGHER: What I am telling you, Mr Hanson, through you, Madam Speaker, is we have agreed to is a piece of work being done that brings together the commitments the Labor Party made in the election around demand analysis for public birthing services on the north side of Canberra. We have to accept that there has been about a 20 per increase in public birth demand over the last couple of years so that has changed some of the planning that we have had around the provision of public birthing services. That change has been largely brought around by the changes in the private health system relating to private birth.
That piece of work will also examine any opportunities for the provision of birthing services, including a stand-alone birth centre. My own view is that there will be concerns raised about the potential to deliver that in a city our size and the fact that we currently run two public birthing services at both of our public hospitals. But the review will look at all of those issues and provide its advice back to me and, through me, to the Assembly.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Coe.
MR COE: Minister, will the new birth centre at Calvary hospital promised by Labor be delayed to allow completion of the feasibility study contained in the parliamentary agreement?
MS GALLAGHER: No, they are different models, and the birthing service as announced by us in the campaign will be done irrespective of the demand analysis that is going to be examined and the potential for a stand-alone birth centre.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Coe.
MR COE: Yes. Chief Minister, what is the cost of the review, who will conduct it and, if there are any changes to the facilities provided, will that mean that the Calvary hospital birth centre will be reduced in size?
MS GALLAGHER: I cannot answer the third part. It is a hypothetical question and it is impossible to answer that without having finished the work. In terms of the costs and who will do it, that has yet to be determined.
Transport—light rail
MR COE: My question is to the Minister for Territory and Municipal Services. In an article on the proposed light rail system published by BRW on 14 November this year, Hyder Consulting was quoted as saying “it is unlikely a PPP would work in the ACT’s case, as revenue streams to fund the financing would not be strong enough”. Minister, will the government continue to build the light rail system even if a PPP is not viable?
MR CORBELL: Thank you, Madam Speaker.
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