❓ The Minister for Health discusses amendments to the Limitation Act, focusing on its impact on obstetrics and child sex abuse victims, highlighting the need for reform and accusing the opposition of obstructing progress.
AnsweredQoN 745Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Will the minister inform the House what the amendments to the Limitation Act mean for the future of obstetrics in Western Australia and how they will help the victims of child sex abuse? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
As I am sure all members opposite know, Western Australia has the most restrictive common law limitation regime of any country in the world. Members will know that the general regime, with the exception of asbestos-related injuries, is that people have six years to take legal action and there is no capacity whatsoever to extend that very rigid limitation period. This has caused an injustice to many Western Australians and problems to many others. The injustice has occurred mainly in the areas of latent injury and disease. People who have suffered child sex abuse, and whose problems manifest themselves later in life as a result of that abuse, do not have the capacity to take legal action in Western Australia. Similarly, for people suffering from injuries due to chemical exposure that manifest themselves later, there is no prospect of their being able to take legal action for compensation because of the limitation laws. Obstetrics is perhaps the best example for people for whom simple problems have been created. We are all aware that currently doctors can be sued up to 24 years after the delivery of a child. No-one believes that is just or fair and, of course, it has tremendous repercussions for the practice of obstetrics; it is driving up the cost of obstetrics and young doctors are being discouraged from undertaking the practice. Ms S.E. Walker: Why did you wait until the very last week to introduce the legislation? Dr G.I. Gallop: These are the people holding it up. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, the Opposition is holding it up. Mr Speaker, I will go back to the beginning of the obstetrics issue, due to the fact that I was interrupted. We are all aware of problems that are created by the ability to sue doctors 24 years after delivery of a baby. I think everyone in this House agrees that that is an unacceptable situation. The costs from having a 24-year tail, particularly of insurance, are such that we cannot - Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Mr Speaker, this is a serious matter and I want to answer the question that has been posed. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are being imposed on mothers, families and the health system - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: As I am sure all members opposite know, Western Australia has the most restrictive common law limitation regime of any country in the world. Members will know that the general regime, with the exception of asbestos-related injuries, is that people have six years to take legal action and there is no capacity whatsoever to extend that very rigid limitation period. This has caused an injustice to many Western Australians and problems to many others. The injustice has occurred mainly in the areas of latent injury and disease. People who have suffered child sex abuse, and whose problems manifest themselves later in life as a result of that abuse, do not have the capacity to take legal action in Western Australia. Similarly, for people suffering from injuries due to chemical exposure that manifest themselves later, there is no prospect of their being able to take legal action for compensation because of the limitation laws. Obstetrics is perhaps the best example for people for whom simple problems have been created. We are all aware that currently doctors can be sued up to 24 years after the delivery of a child. No-one believes that is just or fair and, of course, it has tremendous repercussions for the practice of obstetrics; it is driving up the cost of obstetrics and young doctors are being discouraged from undertaking the practice. Ms S.E. Walker: Why did you wait until the very last week to introduce the legislation? Dr G.I. Gallop: These are the people holding it up. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, the Opposition is holding it up. Mr Speaker, I will go back to the beginning of the obstetrics issue, due to the fact that I was interrupted. We are all aware of problems that are created by the ability to sue doctors 24 years after delivery of a baby. I think everyone in this House agrees that that is an unacceptable situation. The costs from having a 24-year tail, particularly of insurance, are such that we cannot - Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Mr Speaker, this is a serious matter and I want to answer the question that has been posed. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are being imposed on mothers, families and the health system - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
As I am sure all members opposite know, Western Australia has the most restrictive common law limitation regime of any country in the world. Members will know that the general regime, with the exception of asbestos-related injuries, is that people have six years to take legal action and there is no capacity whatsoever to extend that very rigid limitation period. This has caused an injustice to many Western Australians and problems to many others. The injustice has occurred mainly in the areas of latent injury and disease. People who have suffered child sex abuse, and whose problems manifest themselves later in life as a result of that abuse, do not have the capacity to take legal action in Western Australia. Similarly, for people suffering from injuries due to chemical exposure that manifest themselves later, there is no prospect of their being able to take legal action for compensation because of the limitation laws. Obstetrics is perhaps the best example for people for whom simple problems have been created. We are all aware that currently doctors can be sued up to 24 years after the delivery of a child. No-one believes that is just or fair and, of course, it has tremendous repercussions for the practice of obstetrics; it is driving up the cost of obstetrics and young doctors are being discouraged from undertaking the practice. Ms S.E. Walker: Why did you wait until the very last week to introduce the legislation? Dr G.I. Gallop: These are the people holding it up. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, the Opposition is holding it up. Mr Speaker, I will go back to the beginning of the obstetrics issue, due to the fact that I was interrupted. We are all aware of problems that are created by the ability to sue doctors 24 years after delivery of a baby. I think everyone in this House agrees that that is an unacceptable situation. The costs from having a 24-year tail, particularly of insurance, are such that we cannot - Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Mr Speaker, this is a serious matter and I want to answer the question that has been posed. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are being imposed on mothers, families and the health system - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Ms S.E. Walker: Why did you wait until the very last week to introduce the legislation? Dr G.I. Gallop: These are the people holding it up. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, the Opposition is holding it up. Mr Speaker, I will go back to the beginning of the obstetrics issue, due to the fact that I was interrupted. We are all aware of problems that are created by the ability to sue doctors 24 years after delivery of a baby. I think everyone in this House agrees that that is an unacceptable situation. The costs from having a 24-year tail, particularly of insurance, are such that we cannot - Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Mr Speaker, this is a serious matter and I want to answer the question that has been posed. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are being imposed on mothers, families and the health system - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Dr G.I. Gallop: These are the people holding it up. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, the Opposition is holding it up. Mr Speaker, I will go back to the beginning of the obstetrics issue, due to the fact that I was interrupted. We are all aware of problems that are created by the ability to sue doctors 24 years after delivery of a baby. I think everyone in this House agrees that that is an unacceptable situation. The costs from having a 24-year tail, particularly of insurance, are such that we cannot - Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Mr Speaker, this is a serious matter and I want to answer the question that has been posed. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are being imposed on mothers, families and the health system - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, the Opposition is holding it up. Mr Speaker, I will go back to the beginning of the obstetrics issue, due to the fact that I was interrupted. We are all aware of problems that are created by the ability to sue doctors 24 years after delivery of a baby. I think everyone in this House agrees that that is an unacceptable situation. The costs from having a 24-year tail, particularly of insurance, are such that we cannot - Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Mr Speaker, this is a serious matter and I want to answer the question that has been posed. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are being imposed on mothers, families and the health system - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr Speaker, I will go back to the beginning of the obstetrics issue, due to the fact that I was interrupted. We are all aware of problems that are created by the ability to sue doctors 24 years after delivery of a baby. I think everyone in this House agrees that that is an unacceptable situation. The costs from having a 24-year tail, particularly of insurance, are such that we cannot - Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Mr Speaker, this is a serious matter and I want to answer the question that has been posed. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are being imposed on mothers, families and the health system - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
We are all aware of problems that are created by the ability to sue doctors 24 years after delivery of a baby. I think everyone in this House agrees that that is an unacceptable situation. The costs from having a 24-year tail, particularly of insurance, are such that we cannot - Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Mr Speaker, this is a serious matter and I want to answer the question that has been posed. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are being imposed on mothers, families and the health system - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Mr Speaker, this is a serious matter and I want to answer the question that has been posed. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are being imposed on mothers, families and the health system - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Mr Speaker, this is a serious matter and I want to answer the question that has been posed. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are being imposed on mothers, families and the health system - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are being imposed on mothers, families and the health system - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are being imposed on mothers, families and the health system - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
The SPEAKER: Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: As I am sure all members opposite know, Western Australia has the most restrictive common law limitation regime of any country in the world. Members will know that the general regime, with the exception of asbestos-related injuries, is that people have six years to take legal action and there is no capacity whatsoever to extend that very rigid limitation period. This has caused an injustice to many Western Australians and problems to many others. The injustice has occurred mainly in the areas of latent injury and disease. People who have suffered child sex abuse, and whose problems manifest themselves later in life as a result of that abuse, do not have the capacity to take legal action in Western Australia. Similarly, for people suffering from injuries due to chemical exposure that manifest themselves later, there is no prospect of their being able to take legal action for compensation because of the limitation laws. Obstetrics is perhaps the best example for people for whom simple problems have been created. We are all aware that currently doctors can be sued up to 24 years after the delivery of a child. No-one believes that is just or fair and, of course, it has tremendous repercussions for the practice of obstetrics; it is driving up the cost of obstetrics and young doctors are being discouraged from undertaking the practice. Ms S.E. Walker: Why did you wait until the very last week to introduce the legislation? Dr G.I. Gallop: These are the people holding it up. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, the Opposition is holding it up. Mr Speaker, I will go back to the beginning of the obstetrics issue, due to the fact that I was interrupted. We are all aware of problems that are created by the ability to sue doctors 24 years after delivery of a baby. I think everyone in this House agrees that that is an unacceptable situation. The costs from having a 24-year tail, particularly of insurance, are such that we cannot - Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Mr Speaker, this is a serious matter and I want to answer the question that has been posed. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are being imposed on mothers, families and the health system - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
As I am sure all members opposite know, Western Australia has the most restrictive common law limitation regime of any country in the world. Members will know that the general regime, with the exception of asbestos-related injuries, is that people have six years to take legal action and there is no capacity whatsoever to extend that very rigid limitation period. This has caused an injustice to many Western Australians and problems to many others. The injustice has occurred mainly in the areas of latent injury and disease. People who have suffered child sex abuse, and whose problems manifest themselves later in life as a result of that abuse, do not have the capacity to take legal action in Western Australia. Similarly, for people suffering from injuries due to chemical exposure that manifest themselves later, there is no prospect of their being able to take legal action for compensation because of the limitation laws. Obstetrics is perhaps the best example for people for whom simple problems have been created. We are all aware that currently doctors can be sued up to 24 years after the delivery of a child. No-one believes that is just or fair and, of course, it has tremendous repercussions for the practice of obstetrics; it is driving up the cost of obstetrics and young doctors are being discouraged from undertaking the practice. Ms S.E. Walker: Why did you wait until the very last week to introduce the legislation? Dr G.I. Gallop: These are the people holding it up. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, the Opposition is holding it up. Mr Speaker, I will go back to the beginning of the obstetrics issue, due to the fact that I was interrupted. We are all aware of problems that are created by the ability to sue doctors 24 years after delivery of a baby. I think everyone in this House agrees that that is an unacceptable situation. The costs from having a 24-year tail, particularly of insurance, are such that we cannot - Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Mr Speaker, this is a serious matter and I want to answer the question that has been posed. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are being imposed on mothers, families and the health system - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Ms S.E. Walker: Why did you wait until the very last week to introduce the legislation? Dr G.I. Gallop: These are the people holding it up. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, the Opposition is holding it up. Mr Speaker, I will go back to the beginning of the obstetrics issue, due to the fact that I was interrupted. We are all aware of problems that are created by the ability to sue doctors 24 years after delivery of a baby. I think everyone in this House agrees that that is an unacceptable situation. The costs from having a 24-year tail, particularly of insurance, are such that we cannot - Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Mr Speaker, this is a serious matter and I want to answer the question that has been posed. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are being imposed on mothers, families and the health system - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Dr G.I. Gallop: These are the people holding it up. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, the Opposition is holding it up. Mr Speaker, I will go back to the beginning of the obstetrics issue, due to the fact that I was interrupted. We are all aware of problems that are created by the ability to sue doctors 24 years after delivery of a baby. I think everyone in this House agrees that that is an unacceptable situation. The costs from having a 24-year tail, particularly of insurance, are such that we cannot - Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Mr Speaker, this is a serious matter and I want to answer the question that has been posed. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are being imposed on mothers, families and the health system - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, the Opposition is holding it up. Mr Speaker, I will go back to the beginning of the obstetrics issue, due to the fact that I was interrupted. We are all aware of problems that are created by the ability to sue doctors 24 years after delivery of a baby. I think everyone in this House agrees that that is an unacceptable situation. The costs from having a 24-year tail, particularly of insurance, are such that we cannot - Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Mr Speaker, this is a serious matter and I want to answer the question that has been posed. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are being imposed on mothers, families and the health system - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr Speaker, I will go back to the beginning of the obstetrics issue, due to the fact that I was interrupted. We are all aware of problems that are created by the ability to sue doctors 24 years after delivery of a baby. I think everyone in this House agrees that that is an unacceptable situation. The costs from having a 24-year tail, particularly of insurance, are such that we cannot - Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Mr Speaker, this is a serious matter and I want to answer the question that has been posed. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are being imposed on mothers, families and the health system - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
We are all aware of problems that are created by the ability to sue doctors 24 years after delivery of a baby. I think everyone in this House agrees that that is an unacceptable situation. The costs from having a 24-year tail, particularly of insurance, are such that we cannot - Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Mr Speaker, this is a serious matter and I want to answer the question that has been posed. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are being imposed on mothers, families and the health system - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Mr Speaker, this is a serious matter and I want to answer the question that has been posed. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are being imposed on mothers, families and the health system - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Mr Speaker, this is a serious matter and I want to answer the question that has been posed. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are being imposed on mothers, families and the health system - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are being imposed on mothers, families and the health system - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are being imposed on mothers, families and the health system - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
The SPEAKER: Order, member for Nedlands! Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: The costs that are imposed upon mothers, families and the health system as a result of insurance premiums to cover the 24-year tail are unacceptable. Young doctors are being put off the practice of obstetrics and, in the not too distant future, country areas, the private sector and ultimately the government sector in Western Australia will experience a significant shortage of obstetricians. That shortage will compromise the health care of Western Australian mothers and their babies unless action is taken to fix this problem. The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
The Liberals in the Legislative Council have turned their backs on mothers and doctors in Western Australia by throwing out that legislation earlier this week. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: It is absolutely disgraceful! Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr C.J. Barnett: You were offered a deal to get it through; you declined it. It’s on your neck. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it? The Opposition does not really care about fixing the problem, does it? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
The SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is now finished with that outburst. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition gave a personal guarantee to doctors, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that the Liberal Party supported this legislation and that it would pass through the Parliament. What happened when it went to the Legislative Council? Liberal Party members lined up to defeat the legislation. They referred it to a committee with two or three days of Parliament left with the sole intention of killing it. We all know, because we know what is happening around the place - Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr C.J. Barnett: Untrue! Tell the truth for a change. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is that not true? Is the Leader of the Opposition rejecting that? Who moved the motion to refer it to a committee in the knowledge that with the prorogation of Parliament it would be rejected and defeated? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Your Labor members did not oppose the Bill going to a committee. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, they did. Have a read of Hansard . They said they did not support it. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Where is it? Show the division! Show the results! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hon Peter Foss moved that the Bill be sent off to a committee for the purposes of killing the Bill. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And your lot didn’t oppose it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is an untruth that was run by Hon Norman Moore on ABC radio at 7.00 am yesterday. When the ABC was rung and told it was not true and that the proposal was opposed by the Labor Party to refer it to a committee, even the ABC pulled it from its news bulletins because it knew that it was untrue. Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr C.J. Barnett: You didn’t defeat it. You didn’t even vote on it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Squealing! The Opposition should pass this legislation because it is good legislation. Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Yesterday I was out and about at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fremantle Hospital talking to doctors and people involved in the health system who feel anger towards the Liberal Party for two reasons. First, doctors know that this legislation is important to the future practice of medicine in Western Australia. Indeed, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered by this Parliament so far as the delivery of medical services in Western Australia is concerned. The second reason, and the reason that they are livid - I am not referring to obstetricians - is that they feel betrayed by the Liberal Party, because despite saying that it would support this legislation and ensure that it was passed, when it came to the Parliament the Liberal Party did the exact opposite. I do not know whether the Liberal Party did that because of a deliberate desire to torpedo health care in Western Australia, to make things a bit difficult for the Government, which sponsored the legislation, or to stick one up its own leader. Whatever the reason, it is a political stunt that is totally unacceptable. This legislation must be passed. I make this point: I welcome the suggestion that has come from the Liberal Party - obviously because of intense pressure - to recall the Bill from the committee in order to pass it. The Bill is complicated. It has taken from the time a discussion paper was issued by me in 2002 and discussions with all the relevant interest groups to be able to - Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr C.J. Barnett: If it’s complicated, Parliament should look at it. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Leader of the Opposition should not have voted for it unless he supported it. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: The Opposition is squealing too much. Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr C.J. Barnett: I have never seen such an incompetent Government. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let us look at the incompetence of the Opposition. It gave a written promise to doctors on which it then reneged. The word of the Leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted, because he gave and broke the promise. He is not an honourable person, and he knows it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: I welcome the suggestion - obviously given as a result of enormous pressure from the medical profession, if not the wider community - to recall the Bill from the committee so that it can be passed in the Legislative Council. I make this point: the Bill is complicated. It took two years to formulate. However, we have got the balance right. The Opposition has not suggested in either this or the other House that any matter requires consideration, let alone amendment. If issues can be identified, we will address them. I do not believe that there are any such issues. Nobody has pointed to a single issue that must be dealt with or further considered or amended. That is the test of whether the legislation is good. I will make available to every member of the upper House government experts in the area of tort law so that they can throw their questions to those experts and be fully briefed and informed. I welcome the proposal to bring the Bill back to the Legislative Council. That is the least that can be done. It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
It has been suggested that the Bill should be split; however, that cannot be done. This legislation will move all legal actions from an old regime, which is discredited, to a new regime. The Bill is not amenable to removing the provisions that deal with obstetrics and to their being dealt with in isolation. The whole Bill deals with the totality of limitations law reform. Therefore, although I appreciate that the suggestion of dividing the Bill was done as a face-saving gesture by Liberal Party colleagues in the upper House, unfortunately, technically it cannot be done. I urge the upper House, particularly the Liberal Party members, to show a bit of common decency. I urge the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to show a bit of leadership and to get his members in the upper House to implement what he promised Western Australian doctors.
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