Mr BELL - 1995-11-22
It is now public knowledge that the Minister for Health Services did not consult the operators of public bus companies before he announced what everybody recognises was a stupid policy of bussing Territory addicts to interstate treatment programs. The minister did not even offer the bus company operators the courtesy of a meeting when they flew to Darwin specifically for that purpose.
Mr Finch: They did not ask for one.
Mr BELL: After embarrassing the Territory nationally, the minister has now stood on his head and said that there is a place for methadone programs in the Northern Territory. In view of this bumbling performance from the member for Leanyer ...
Mr Stirling: Do you intend to sack him?
Mr BELL: ... what confidence does the Chief Minister have in the future advice and performance of the Minister for Health Services?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, to pick up the interjection from the member for Nhulunbuy, I would sack him before I would sack the minister.
Mr Bell: How long after?
Mr Finch: I am interested in that as well.
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Mr STONE: You would agree that you should be sacked, Syd?
I have every confidence in the Minister for Health Services. He is a minister of long standing in this government. He has served with distinction in a variety of ministries under 4 successive Chief Ministers ...
Members interjecting.
Mr STONE: I can see that the member for MacDonnell intended this to be a serious question. I have dealt with it with the level of seriousness with which he approached it. Let us debunk the myth about who thought of the one-way bus ticket. If the member is honest, he will look at the media reports. In May, there was an exchange between Dr Nitschke and my colleague. In effect, Dr Nitschke asked why the minister did not give them at least a bus ticket. It all took off from there.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: There is a lesson in this for all of us as to how members opposite respond and the way that little stories take off. The Minister for Health Services sought to set out the history of how it all came about. The point is that it ain't there no more.
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Mr Finch: They did not ask for one.
Mr BELL: After embarrassing the Territory nationally, the minister has now stood on his head and said that there is a place for methadone programs in the Northern Territory. In view of this bumbling performance from the member for Leanyer ...
Mr Stirling: Do you intend to sack him?
Mr BELL: ... what confidence does the Chief Minister have in the future advice and performance of the Minister for Health Services?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, to pick up the interjection from the member for Nhulunbuy, I would sack him before I would sack the minister.
Mr Bell: How long after?
Mr Finch: I am interested in that as well.
Page 1025
Mr STONE: You would agree that you should be sacked, Syd?
I have every confidence in the Minister for Health Services. He is a minister of long standing in this government. He has served with distinction in a variety of ministries under 4 successive Chief Ministers ...
Members interjecting.
Mr STONE: I can see that the member for MacDonnell intended this to be a serious question. I have dealt with it with the level of seriousness with which he approached it. Let us debunk the myth about who thought of the one-way bus ticket. If the member is honest, he will look at the media reports. In May, there was an exchange between Dr Nitschke and my colleague. In effect, Dr Nitschke asked why the minister did not give them at least a bus ticket. It all took off from there.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: There is a lesson in this for all of us as to how members opposite respond and the way that little stories take off. The Minister for Health Services sought to set out the history of how it all came about. The point is that it ain't there no more.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016