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No giving up vows hospice defender By Eleri Harris
“IT doesn’t matter about the terminally ill, at the end of the day the Government think they’re just going to die anyway, why do we need to invest any money?” says Andre Poidomani. The founder of Supporters of Clare Holland House is critical of Health Minister Katy Gallagher removing the sale of the ACT’s only palliative care hospice from the delayed appropriation Bill that will facilitate the purchase of Calvary Hospital. “We’re not going to give up on it, just because the Government is giving up on it – giving up on the hospice and giving up on the dying,” he says. Poidomani’s group, created to represent the families of those who have lost a loved one at the hospice, will continue to lobby the Government and the Greens to save Clare Holland House from privatisation, despite firm statements from ACT Labor committing to the sale. The ACT Government intends to
buy Calvary Hospital for $77 million in a deal that will see it sell the hospice to Little Company of Mary Health Care Limited for $9 million. In fact, there is nothing stopping Gallagher selling Clare Holland House at any point, without reference to anyone and regardless of the decisions made by the Legislative Assembly on the purchase of Calvary Hospital. A spokeswoman for the Health Minister told “CityNews”: “There is no legal requirement to consult with particular groups. However, the Government has just completed an extensive consultation with a large number of stakeholders and the community. “The sale of the hospice does not require a Bill to be put before the Assembly. The Minister has been clear that the proposal is one as a whole. Should the appropriation Bill pass the Assembly and the Catholic Church approves the sale of the hospital to the Government, the sale of Clare Holland House will also go ahead.”
Care Limited were evidence of their dehumanisation of the hospice. “I think it’s quite arrogant of the Government not to listen to a few hundred people who are quite concerned about it. It is going to be dollar signs at the end of the day.” While the Government denies the palliative care hospice is being used as a bargaining chip in the deal with Little Company of Mary Health Care Limited, Opposition health spokesman Jeremy Hanson said the Minister’s move to split the hospice from the appropriation Bill was a deliberate attempt to wedge the Greens – who support the purchase of the hospital, but not the sale of the hospice. The Greens’ Amanda Bresnan disaAndre Poidomani… “We’re not going grees, but declined to make a comment to give up on it, just because the on the development. Government is giving up on it.” “Look, what the Government’s pro Photo by Silas posed isn’t actually any different from Poidomani says the Government’s what we thought would happen. mounting contradictions on the deal “We put forward our concerns rewith Little Company of Mary Health garding the lease and obviously we’ve
Traffic delays
briefly
Unhappy anthem
MOTORISTS can expect delays as a result of major changes to traffic conditions at the Kings Avenue Overpass construction site (Russell roundabout) from next month until December. Traffic around the existing
roundabout will be extended down Parkes Way and Morshead Drive for north and southbound traffic respectively. There will be a 40km/ph speed limit 24/7.
MORE than 60 per cent of Australians are unhappy with “Advance Australia Fair” as the national anthem and are calling for a change, according to an online survey by totaltravel.com.
CityNews January 28 - February 3
now got to consider the implications of the Vatican processes and the delay on the appropriation Bill – because it does change the situation somewhat. We will be responding in due course.” By only including Calvary Hospital in the appropriation Bill, which cannot be put forward till LCMHC gain Vatican approval, Minister Gallagher has said she hopes to respond to calls to separate the sale and purchase – without separating the sale and purchase. “The appropriation Bill will be for the purchase of the hospital itself, not discounted for the sale of the hospice,” she says. “There have been calls for the hospice and hospital deal to be separated – this meets it to some extent. “Whilst many would like to see them separated – the issue of the ownership of the hospice verses the ownership of the hospital – for LCM who currently run both of these facilities, this is not an option.”
Meet the talk-back book By Kathryn Vukovljak WHEN you come from a place that people don’t believe is real, any opportunity to set them straight has to be taken, according to Baba Achadji, a student from Timbuktu, who is one of five “living books” available to check out at Kippax Library in Holt, as part of the new Living Library program. “When I tell people when I’m from, I always get the same reaction – ‘Stop kidding, mate!’” smiles Baba. “People don’t think Timbuktu exists, so I think I have something interesting to talk about.” Other living books include living with Parkinson’s, a foster mum of 30 years, a parent who adopted a child from Thailand and a home-schooling parent. “We want to stop people judging a book by its cover,” says Sarah Steed, programs manager at the library. “This initiative is all about breaking down stereotypes. “Our living books are people who have faced prejudice in society, so this is a chance to get the real story.” Each “book” is available for 30-45 minutes, and in that time you get a one-on-one conversation with the opportunity to ask any questions you like.
“Living Book” Baba Achadji… “People don’t think Timbuktu exists, so I think I have something interesting to talk about.” But within reason, says Elena Battey, volunteer co-ordinator for the Living Library scheme. “People are encouraged not to be shy about what they ask, but to be respectful at the same time,” she says. As for Timbuktu, Baba explains that it’s a remote, dusty, sandy place in Mali, at the entrance to the Sahara on the Niger River bend. Want to know more? You’ll just have to check out Baba for yourself. Bookings are essential. Contact the ACT Public Library to register or ask for more information on 6205 9000 or visit www.library. act.gov.au