Page 1300 - Week 04 - Thursday, 8 May 2014

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MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Wall.

MR WALL: Minister, is it true that due to the unreliability of the monitors in giving accurate and consistent blood pressure readings, ambulances are now carrying manual cuff blood pressure reading equipment?

MR CORBELL: Ambulances have always carried manual blood-reading equipment.

MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Smyth.

MR SMYTH: Minister, is it true that on some occasions, due to a lack of reliable batteries, ambulance workers have had to swap batteries between ambulances?

MR CORBELL: That was the case last year but following the recall put in place by the manufacturer those problems are no longer occurring.

MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Smyth.

MR SMYTH: Minister, is it true that these units have been subject to recalls worldwide?

MR CORBELL: I am advised that the batteries that were supplied with these units were subject to a recall worldwide, and I gave you that information in the previous answer that I gave you. The defibrillators themselves have been reviewed by the manufacturer and appropriate steps taken, consistent with the contract we have in place with the manufacturer. The manufacturer has a warranty period. We are still within that warranty period. No additional cost is being incurred to ACT ratepayers. No patient safety is being compromised as a result. The manufacturer continues, with the ACT Ambulance Service, to rectify the problems that have occurred with this equipment. Those have largely, in fact overwhelmingly, now been rectified. I am pleased with the work and the cooperation we have seen from the manufacturer with the ACT Ambulance Service.

Economy—IKEA store

DR BOURKE: My question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, earlier today you announced that a new IKEA store is to be built in Canberra. Can you inform the Assembly about this development and how it will impact on the ACT and the surrounding region in terms of economic benefit and employment?

MS GALLAGHER: I thank Dr Bourke for the question. It is good news that IKEA has announced the arrival of a new store in Canberra to be opened in September 2015. It is a great announcement for Canberrans who have often sought an IKEA store and have travelled to the Sydney locations for IKEA’s products.

The store will be located adjacent to Majura Park, which is already seen as a major retail hub for Canberra. I think IKEA will be a strong driver of economic growth in this precinct, acting as a magnet for other large investors and generating local retail


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