Mr STIRLING - 1998-04-21
Has his department threatened legal action against the independent experts who wrote the damning report detailing his betrayal of the people of central Australia, and has an embargo been placed on this report? How can the minister be so energetic when it comes to hiding the truth in this report, but so inept over many years at solving the problems that are exposed by the report?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I can only emphasise again that this is the first time I have seen this interim report. I emphasise also that it is an interim report. It was commissioned by Territory Health Services, clearly in recognition of difficulties in Alice Springs in respect of attracting health professionals and the mode of service delivery. I understand from Territory Health Services that the report lacks substantive analysis and that is why it has not been produced to me at this stage.
The terms of reference were to review the current situation, to identify gaps in services and resources, to undertake a comprehensive review of allied health services in the region, to make recommendations for change, and to develop a flexible regional model for the provision of allied health services that meets the unique needs of central Australia and considers primary care needs in urban, remote and inpatient areas.
The foreword to the interim report states: 'All recommendations, excepting comments about additional resources, are made in consideration of these submissions and representations'. Essentially, this report is written from submissions and representations from allied health professionals involved in service delivery. From that alone, I suggest that Territory Health Services is probably on the right track in saying that the report lacks substantive analysis. A quick look through it shows no intellectual analysis of needs versus outcomes. Therefore, I support Territory Health Services in its decision not to produce this report for my attention. As for hiding anything or disciplining anyone, I know nothing about that.
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ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I can only emphasise again that this is the first time I have seen this interim report. I emphasise also that it is an interim report. It was commissioned by Territory Health Services, clearly in recognition of difficulties in Alice Springs in respect of attracting health professionals and the mode of service delivery. I understand from Territory Health Services that the report lacks substantive analysis and that is why it has not been produced to me at this stage.
The terms of reference were to review the current situation, to identify gaps in services and resources, to undertake a comprehensive review of allied health services in the region, to make recommendations for change, and to develop a flexible regional model for the provision of allied health services that meets the unique needs of central Australia and considers primary care needs in urban, remote and inpatient areas.
The foreword to the interim report states: 'All recommendations, excepting comments about additional resources, are made in consideration of these submissions and representations'. Essentially, this report is written from submissions and representations from allied health professionals involved in service delivery. From that alone, I suggest that Territory Health Services is probably on the right track in saying that the report lacks substantive analysis. A quick look through it shows no intellectual analysis of needs versus outcomes. Therefore, I support Territory Health Services in its decision not to produce this report for my attention. As for hiding anything or disciplining anyone, I know nothing about that.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016