Dr LIM - 1999-08-12
The Wanguri and Blain by-elections certainly seemed to spark a number of issues with the Opposition Leader and the two Labor Party candidates. One of the issues which Labor went into a media frenzy over was a so-called leaked Territory Health Services document, apparently an internal review into management practices. Can the minister confirm the existence of such a document and whether this was leaked, or whether, in fact, the opposition were, as normal, simply the last to know?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, again I applaud you on your wisdom in allowing the use of the word ‘hypocrisy’.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!I warn the minister that the use of the word ‘hypocrite’ may well be appropriate on some occasions. It will be judged in the context in which it is used and the way in which it is used. For the integrity of the place and to avoid wasting time with points of order, I suggest that we don’t get into the habit of using such words.
Mr DUNHAM: It is true that during the Wanguri and Blain by-elections a document was paraded out. It was done in a very theatrical fashion in front of Royal Darwin Hospital. It is true also that the document did make some criticism of the Northern Territory Department of Territory Health Services. The issues I must debate are to do with a continuing parade of falsehoods associated with that document. It is a theme that’s becoming apparent right through a variety of things that have been touched on by the Leader of the Opposition.
The document is called Feeling the Pulse. It was appropriately named because it is essentially the result of a review of the internal workings of the department. It was not focused on Royal Darwin Hospital. The location of the media conference, I think, was just another example of Royal Darwin Hospital being attacked inappropriately by the opposition.
The document was called a CLP report, which it was not. In parading the document before the media, the Leader of the Opposition took the opportunity to verbal the Chief Minister yet again about our approach to making the health system better. She abridged the document, which I suppose is not unusual. What she did in effect was take out all the good stuff and leave the bad stuff there.
But I suppose what was most notable was a difference between the document used by the Leader of the Opposition - this one on this side - and the original that was circulated to some hundreds of staff. The difference is the stamp ‘confidential’ on the top. It may not have been affixed by the Leader of the Opposition. It’s quite possible ...
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! Would the minister resume his seat for a moment? It’s becoming impossible to hear the answer. I ask members to refrain from so much interjection, please.
Mr DUNHAM: There is a possibility that this document would have passed through a number of hands. There are several hundred copies out there, because it certainly wasn’t confidential. It would have been provided, for instance, to the gentleman now occupying the position of shadow, because he was a former employee. It may have turned up in Clare’s hands with ‘confidential’ stamped on it, and she may well have thought that was affixed appropriately and that it wasn’t a forgery, which I consider it to be.
However she got that document, she then portrayed it as something it was not. It was not a confidential document. It was not a document that was commissioned by the CLP. And it was a document that was entirely useful. Interestingly, when asked whether in the unholy event that she ever achieved office if she would use the document, she said: ‘Oh, yes, that would be a good thing to do. We should look at these reviews’. On the one hand, she finds it controversial that there was a review of the department. On the other hand, she seems to be of the opinion that such reviews are useful.
Mrs Hickey: What are you going to do as Minister for Health?
Mr DUNHAM: Lots and lots.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, again I applaud you on your wisdom in allowing the use of the word ‘hypocrisy’.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!I warn the minister that the use of the word ‘hypocrite’ may well be appropriate on some occasions. It will be judged in the context in which it is used and the way in which it is used. For the integrity of the place and to avoid wasting time with points of order, I suggest that we don’t get into the habit of using such words.
Mr DUNHAM: It is true that during the Wanguri and Blain by-elections a document was paraded out. It was done in a very theatrical fashion in front of Royal Darwin Hospital. It is true also that the document did make some criticism of the Northern Territory Department of Territory Health Services. The issues I must debate are to do with a continuing parade of falsehoods associated with that document. It is a theme that’s becoming apparent right through a variety of things that have been touched on by the Leader of the Opposition.
The document is called Feeling the Pulse. It was appropriately named because it is essentially the result of a review of the internal workings of the department. It was not focused on Royal Darwin Hospital. The location of the media conference, I think, was just another example of Royal Darwin Hospital being attacked inappropriately by the opposition.
The document was called a CLP report, which it was not. In parading the document before the media, the Leader of the Opposition took the opportunity to verbal the Chief Minister yet again about our approach to making the health system better. She abridged the document, which I suppose is not unusual. What she did in effect was take out all the good stuff and leave the bad stuff there.
But I suppose what was most notable was a difference between the document used by the Leader of the Opposition - this one on this side - and the original that was circulated to some hundreds of staff. The difference is the stamp ‘confidential’ on the top. It may not have been affixed by the Leader of the Opposition. It’s quite possible ...
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! Would the minister resume his seat for a moment? It’s becoming impossible to hear the answer. I ask members to refrain from so much interjection, please.
Mr DUNHAM: There is a possibility that this document would have passed through a number of hands. There are several hundred copies out there, because it certainly wasn’t confidential. It would have been provided, for instance, to the gentleman now occupying the position of shadow, because he was a former employee. It may have turned up in Clare’s hands with ‘confidential’ stamped on it, and she may well have thought that was affixed appropriately and that it wasn’t a forgery, which I consider it to be.
However she got that document, she then portrayed it as something it was not. It was not a confidential document. It was not a document that was commissioned by the CLP. And it was a document that was entirely useful. Interestingly, when asked whether in the unholy event that she ever achieved office if she would use the document, she said: ‘Oh, yes, that would be a good thing to do. We should look at these reviews’. On the one hand, she finds it controversial that there was a review of the department. On the other hand, she seems to be of the opinion that such reviews are useful.
Mrs Hickey: What are you going to do as Minister for Health?
Mr DUNHAM: Lots and lots.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016