Page 4350 - Week 12 - Thursday, 24 October 2019

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ambulance access off Yamba Drive. Minister, how much did the government pay for all of this work?

MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I refer Mr Hanson to annual reports, if that information is available there, but I will take the question on notice. I was not a member of this Assembly when that work was done let alone a member of cabinet, so I will take that question on notice and come back if that is possible.

MR HANSON: Minister, why did the government abandon the design concepts and all the work, and was all this money wasted?

MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Mr Hanson for the question. In any major project there is an ongoing process of design development and, indeed, I spoke earlier about the site decision in relation to the SPIRE project, the biggest investment in health infrastructure since self-government, a major investment of 40,000 square metres of state-of the-art facility that will deliver increased emergency, ICU and operating theatre capacity at the Canberra Hospital campus.

A site decision was changed, and that was done following extensive consultation with clinicians and made in the context of the space available for the new facility and the need for it to connect with other buildings on the campus. These things are always evolving as design develops and as you have further conversations with clinicians and with technical specialists.

MRS JONES: Minister, what are the government’s current plans for the future of buildings 2 and 3 at the Canberra Hospital?

MS STEPHEN-SMITH: In responding to Mrs Jones, I can answer an earlier question that I took on notice. I can say that the final phase of the master plan project for Canberra Hospital is expected to be finalised—

Mrs Jones: A point of order. I want a bit of clarification. In the answer to a question, can we have the answer to another question?

MADAM SPEAKER: It may be relevant to what you are asking, Mrs Jones, so I would have provided a bit more than 15 seconds.

Mr Steel: I think that 2 and 3 are part of the master plan?

MS STEPHEN-SMITH: Yes, I think Mr Steel understood where I was going with this matter. The final phase of the master plan development is expected in June 2020. When that is completed, Mrs Jones will have her answer as to what the future plans are for the remainder of the Canberra Hospital campus.

Health—nurse-led walk-in centres

MS CODY: My question is also to the Minister for Health, because she is so amazing. Minister, can you update the Assembly of the rollout of the walk-in centres across Canberra?


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