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Hansard
- Start of Business
- SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT
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ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME
- Ministerial Statement
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SUGAR CANE LEVY BILL 1987
- First Reading
- Second Reading
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SUGAR CANE LEVY COLLECTION BILL 1987
- First Reading
- Second Reading
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SHIPS (CAPITAL GRANTS) BILL 1987
- First Reading
- Second Reading
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CUSTOMS TARIFF BILL 1987
- First Reading
- Second Reading
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CUSTOMS TARIFF (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) BILL 1987
- First Reading
- Second Reading
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CUSTOMS TARIFF (INSTALLATIONS AT SEA) BILL 1987
- First Reading
- Second Reading
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TAXATION LAWS AMENDMENT (COMPANY DISTRIBUTIONS) BILL 1987
- First Reading
- Second Reading
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INCOME TAX (FRANKING DEFICIT) BILL 1987
- First Reading
- Second Reading
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INCOME TAX RATES AMENDMENT BILL 1987
- First Reading
- Second Reading
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COMMUNICATIONS LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 1987
- First Reading
- Second Reading
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SEA INSTALLATIONS BILL 1987
- First Reading
- Second Reading
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SEA INSTALLATIONS LEVY BILL 1987
- First Reading
- Second Reading
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SEA INSTALLATIONS (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) BILL 1987
- First Reading
- Second Reading
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CUSTOMS TARIFF AMENDMENT (SEA INSTALLATIONS) BILL 1987
- First Reading
- Second Reading
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EXCISE TARIFF AMENDMENT (SEA INSTALLATIONS) BILL 1987
- First Reading
- Second Reading
- DEVELOPMENT OF NEW UTILITY HELICOPTER FACILITIES AT RAAF BASE, TOWNSVILLE
- UPGRADING OF JINDALEE FACILITIES AT ALICE SPRINGS
- UPGRADING OF ACUTE WARD ACCOMMODATION, REPATRIATION GENERAL HOSPITAL, CONCORD, NEW SOUTH WALES
- DEFENCE LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 1987
- GRIEVANCE DEBATE
- MINISTERIAL ARRANGEMENTS
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QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
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COMPULSORY UNIONISM
(Mr HAWKE) -
ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES: ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME
(Mr GORMAN, Mr HOLDING) -
SALE OF PUBLICLY OWNED ASSETS
(Mr SPENDER, Mr HAWKE) -
COALITION DRUGS TASK FORCE
(Mr SNOW, Dr BLEWETT) -
SALE OF PUBLIC ASSETS
(Mr HOWARD, Mr HAWKE) -
HOUSING
(Mr RONALD EDWARDS, Mr WEST) -
SALE OF PUBLIC ASSETS
(Mr HOWARD, Mr HAWKE) -
TERTIARY EDUCATION
(Dr CHARLESWORTH, Mr DAWKINS) -
SALE OF PUBLIC ASSETS
(Mr CARLTON, Mr KEATING) -
WAGES POLICY
(Mrs KELLY, Mr WILLIS) -
COASTAL SURVEILLANCE
(Mr LLOYD, Mr PETER MORRIS)
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COMPULSORY UNIONISM
- JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON THE NEW PARLIAMENT HOUSE
- INTERNATIONAL TRADE LAW CONFERENCE
- AUSTRALIA'S ROLE IN ACHIEVING WORLD AGRICULTURAL TRADE REFORM
- PARLIAMENT HOUSE CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY
- AUSTRALIAN HERITAGE COMMISSION
- PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS
- MEMBERS: PERSONAL ATTACKS
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PETITIONS
- Radioactive Substances
- Closure of Post Office Agencies
- Department of Veterans' Affairs
- Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
- Nuclear Test Ban
- Nuclear Free Zones
- Tertiary Education Administration Charge
- Immigration of Malan Family
- Identity Card
- Fringe Benefits Tax
- Fringe Benefits Tax
- Australian War Memorial
- National Flag
- Australian Bill of Rights Bill
- Family Allowance and Spouse Rebate
- Pensions: Assets Test
- National Identification Numbering System
- Landscaping for New Parliament House
- Education Funding
- 'Star Wars' Planning
- Nuclear Test Bans
- Nuclear Weapons Testing in the South Pacific
- Export of Live Sheep
- Immigration of Marin Chirita
- Proposed Western Sydney State University
- Implementation of Multicultural Television in Whyalla and Other Country Areas
- Tertiary Education Administration Charge
- Procedural Text
- LIVING STANDARDS
- ASSENT TO BILLS
- JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
- PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE
- STANDING COMMITTEE ON EXPENDITURE
- AUSTRALIAN DELEGATION TO SEVENTY-FIFTH CONFERENCE OF THE INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION, MEXICO
- DEFENCE LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 1987
- DEFENCE POLICY
- ADJOURNMENT
- PAPERS
- ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
Page: 1956
Mr TIM FISCHER(12.26)
—I join with my colleague the honourable member for Deakin (Mr Beale) in supporting the motion before the Chair relating to that vital institution, the Repatriation General Hospital, Concord, which has looked after so many veterans, war widows and community patients since World War II. In supporting the honourable member for Deakin, I join with him in emphasising the vital role which will have to be played by the repatriation general hospital system over the next decade and the related need for additional nursing home facilities as the mean or average age of so many veterans-particularly from World War II-reaches the critical years which will mean that they require increased medication and increased hospitalisation and nursing home resources.
There are just two other matters I want to touch on in relation to this motion. When I visited the Repatriation General Hospital, Concord, last year I noted the differing accommodation standards depending on whether the wards had been refurbished or were part of a newer wing. Concord Hospital has such a large area that there are problems in providing many of the services to the buildings involved. Despite all the difficult conditions, it was easy to see the spirit of the staff in seeking to do their best to look after veterans, war widows and community patients. However, since my visit last year, and again in more recent weeks, a number of concerns have been expressed in relation to admission to the Repatriation General Hospital, Concord, particularly with regard to totally and permanently incapacitated and other pensioners receiving correct priority in gaining admission as veterans, former prisoners of war or various other categories of recipients and beneficiaries under the Department of Veterans' Affairs. they are being turned away, on occasions, from admission to Concord. Naturally, I hope that on the completion of the extensions and improvements which are provided for in this motion, there will be improvements to the rate of admission to the RGH, Concord.
I take this opportunity to highlight to the House the problems which exist concerning admission and the concern that they create for so many veterans not only at Concord but also at Heidelberg, Melbourne, and elsewhere when they are turned away. I support the overall government policy of providing that a maximum of 20 per cent of patients in our repatriation system be community patients. That is desirable to try to provide the right range of discipline and professional experience to the professional staff involved. However, the Minister for Housing and Construction (Mr West), the Government and the officials involved need to look very carefully at admission procedures to see that the right thing is being done for the veterans, the TPI pensioners and particularly former prisoners of war. They have often reached very critical stages with their war-related disabilities and should not experience delays in receiving adequate care and medical attention when they require them. I join with the honourable member for Deakin in supporting this motion before the chair.
Question resolved in the affirmative.