Page 3269 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 21 August 2019

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needs of all people they come into contact with. This just shows how important the strategy is and the real impact it will have on Canberrans with disability and the wider community. Again I thank everybody involved in its development.

Mr Barr: I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper.

Supplementary answer to question without notice

Canberra Hospital—emergency department bypass

MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I want to respond to a couple of questions I was asked yesterday by Miss Burch in relation to patient transfers to the National Capital Private Hospital on the night of 14-15 August. I can advise the Assembly that eight patients were transferred to the National Capital Private Hospital; of these, three patients were transferred back to Canberra Hospital and five were discharged home.

Miss Burch also asked about the agreement in place with the National Capital Private Hospital. I can advise that there is no formal agreement in place in relation to these matters. However, during periods of high demand, the Canberra Health Services executive make immediate arrangements with the general manager of the National Capital Private Hospital to identify the capacity and ability to safely transfer clinically appropriate patients.

Personal explanations

MR PARTON (Brindabella) (3.05): Pursuant to standing order 46, I seek leave to make a personal explanation. I wish to address some comments made by Minister Gentleman about me in response to a question.

MADAM SPEAKER: Do you claim to have been misrepresented?

MR PARTON: Yes.

MADAM SPEAKER: Please proceed.

MR PARTON: Thank you. I completely and utterly reject the characterisation made by Mr Gentleman in his rant in his response to the question and his incorrect perception of a slur against our hardworking police made by me on my much-visited Facebook page. If he had bothered to read even the first comment on the post, he would have seen a question from Gregg Helden that said: “Are you blaming the police for following orders?” My clear response was, “Not at all. That is what we need our police to do. I am just questioning those orders.”

I have the utmost respect for our police force. I believe that when you consider the diminishing per capita number of police here in the ACT, at the hands of this minister, we would all agree that they are performing over and above our expectations.

MRS JONES (Murrumbidgee) (3.06): Pursuant to standing order 46, I seek leave to make a personal explanation.


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