Page 3687 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 18 September 2018
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MR MILLIGAN: Minister, why did you dismiss this as a “political stunt”, given that you were already aware of the serious problems within ACT Health?
MS FITZHARRIS: I do not believe a board of inquiry is warranted. It was a political stunt—
Mr Hanson: Madam Speaker, on a point of order.
MADAM SPEAKER: Resume your seat, minister. Stop the clock.
Mr Hanson: The question from Mr Milligan, on relevance, was about any form of inquiry. The minister dismissed an inquiry, including the specific words “lower level inquiry”. The question is about why she dismissed the lower level inquiry; she is turning her attention to the board of inquiry. The line of questioning is about any inquiry which she previously had opposed.
MADAM SPEAKER: You have over a minute and a half of two minutes, minister.
MS FITZHARRIS: At the time that the board of inquiry was discussed in the chamber, we had recently been through an accreditation process. The outcomes of that full process were not yet fully known, as we had not yet received the final report, if I recall correctly. These issues had not been written about to me by the opposition. We had recently gone through a full day’s hearings with the ACT Health executive, and very few questions were raised by the opposition. The opposition have available to them their membership of a variety of committees in this place, including the health committee. Those avenues were not pursued. That is why I dismissed it as a political stunt on the day.
I have since said that I certainly do not believe that a board of inquiry is warranted, and I have announced an independent review.
MS CHEYNE: Minister, do you think the timing is right for a review into workplace culture at ACT Health?
Mrs Dunne: The question is out of order. Ms Cheyne was asking Ms Fitzharris for an expression of opinion: “Do you think”.
MADAM SPEAKER: Can you repeat the question, Ms Cheyne.
MS CHEYNE: Minister, is the time right for a review into workplace culture at ACT Health?
Mrs Dunne: On the point of order, I seem to recall during the last sitting period that you said you would not give members an opportunity to rephrase their questions. Ms Cheyne clearly asked Ms Fitzharris did she think. When you asked her what she said, she gave you another form of words.
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