Page 3737 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 28 October 2015

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Mr Coe interjecting—

Dr Bourke: On a point of order, Madam Speaker, I just wanted to draw to your attention to the fact that Mr Coe has already been warned by the Deputy Speaker for unparliamentary behaviour and interjecting this morning.

MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you, Dr Bourke.

Mr Coe: On the point of order, I actually have not been warned.

MADAM SPEAKER: My understanding is that Mr Coe has not been warned, from my conversation with Ms Porter.

MS BERRY: Finally, Madam Speaker, of course the health benefits which I was just referring to, of the incidental exercise that we get by travelling on public transport are significant. Anybody who owns a Fitbit can certainly attest to that. I thank Dr Bourke for bringing this motion to the Assembly. I hope that the Canberra Liberals can bring themselves to join with the rest of the city and build a vibrant city that provides public transport for everybody and a more inclusive society that we all would like to enjoy.

Debate interrupted in accordance with standing order 74 and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour.

Sitting suspended from 12.24 to 2.30 pm.

Questions without notice

Canberra Hospital—alleged bullying

MR HANSON: So that there are no surprises, my question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, on 8 October 2015, months overdue, you released an independent KPMG report into the clinical training culture at Canberra Hospital. The report was damning. It said management provided “positive reinforcement for aspiring bullies”. In a media release with the report, you admitted that “poor behaviours such as bullying, inappropriate interpersonal relationships and emotional intimidation have been allowed to persist for so long” and that “these behaviours were prolonged and normalised”. You also admitted to “a culture that accepts or condones bullying, discrimination and/or harassment”. In the Canberra Times, the AMA said that the so-called “swift and decisive action” that you proposed would almost inevitably fail. The AMA also expressed little faith in the recommendations from the report ending the decades of cultural decay. Minister, over what period of years have the bullying, inappropriate interpersonal relationships and emotional intimidation been prolonged and normalised?

MR CORBELL: I thank Mr Hanson for his question. This is a serious matter. Going straight to the substance of his question, which is “For how long has this occurred?”, I would draw Mr Hanson’s attention to the conclusions of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in relation to their national report on this matter, where they


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