Page 1887 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 2 June 2015

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latest commonwealth budget papers, and that is only out to the 2016-17 financial year. So those are the marked contrasts of priorities—a government that has invested $900 million in health infrastructure since 2009—

Mr Wall: What did they say in estimates about that yesterday, Simon? I think you were told that you were telling porky pies.

MADAM SPEAKER: Withdraw, Mr Wall.

Mr Wall: I withdraw, Madam Speaker.

MR CORBELL: A government that will invest over $40 million in the forthcoming budget in additional bed capacity in our public hospitals, at the University of Canberra, at Calvary public and at the Canberra Hospital. So those are our priorities. In contrast, the priorities of the Liberal Party, nationally and locally, are to defend cuts to our public hospital system that are worth over $228 million just over the four-year period of the forward estimates. So that is their record. We are very happy to stand on ours.

MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.

MR HANSON: Minister, how many new community health centres could be built with the light rail $800 million?

MR CORBELL: We have already built two new community health centres. We have built a new one in Belconnen and we have built a new one in Gungahlin. They are outstanding facilities that the community has welcomed. We have also, of course, refurbished other community health centres, including a fantastic refurbished centre in Tuggeranong. That is this government’s commitment. We are investing in the public health infrastructure our city needs. We are investing in these important facilities. We have spent, as a government, over $900 million on health infrastructure since 2009.

Those are our priorities—priorities to better public health facilities right across the territory, whether it is in Tuggeranong, Gungahlin, Belconnen or a range of other locations right across the city. The budget that the Chief Minister and Treasurer will bring down shortly will reinforce those commitments, because we are committed to making sure Canberrans get the public health services they need. In contrast, the Liberal Party is only interested in cutting funding due to the ACT for our public hospital services.

MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Coe.

MR COE: Minister, how many subacute beds could be built with $800 million?

MR CORBELL: We are making significant investments in subacute beds. It is this government who are investing in the University of Canberra public hospital. We are delivering in full on our commitments when it comes to the University of Canberra public hospital. The forthcoming budget will make an investment of over $100 million in a new subacute facility at the University of Canberra. This is the only government that is making those commitments.


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