The ABC brings word of some rowdiness in Assembly estimates hearings over the decision of the ACT Government to terminate the planning approval process for the new carpark at Canberra Hospital.
Andrew Barr is refusing to have anything to do with the estimates committee but Katy Gallagher is defending the decision:
- Health Minister Katy Gallagher says she urged Mr Barr to use his ‘call-in’ powers and she has defended the move.
“I had to make a judgement call about whether I was prepared to let the hospital redevelopment being delayed by six months,” she said.
“It’s a judgement call I had to make within a certain time frame and I’ve made it.”
Now sure, the need to use the call-in suggests the system is a bit broken, we already knew that, and it would be nice to see it fixed. But other than the procedural niceties we’re talking about a major expansion of the hospital, what are these grave concerns and are they really worth holding up the re-development for?