Dead children and a health minister very publicly dodging questions about a hospital system the ACT government has shamefully underfunded for years; does it get any worse for this community? It’s “Seven Days” with IAN MEIKLE.

“PEOPLE die in hospitals. It is part of delivering a hospital service.” And there, with chilling clinical indifference, the health minister confirmed to the nation the shameful state of emergency care in the ACT. 

That line, from Rachel Stephen-Smith’s appearance at the August 23 estimates hearing, was beamed to every corner of our wide, brown land in a damning indictment on the treatment and deaths recently of two young people – first, five-year-old Rozalia Spadafora and more recently Brian Lovelock, 13 – in hospital.

Avoidable deaths? That’s for the coroner to ultimately decide, but the story on “A Current Affair” made for uncomfortable viewing; two sobbing mothers contrasted with Stephen-Smith, virtuously wearing a mask as she strode silently across Civic Square stalked by a persistent “ACA” reporter asking, not unreasonably after four requests for an interview, why the minister wouldn’t talk to her.

To the reporter’s question: “Children are dying, you’re the health minister, what are you doing about it?”. Stephen-Smith, through her mask, had the gall to say: “I would strongly recommend that you think about the way you are presenting this story.” 

Guaranteed broadcast and high-fives in the Sydney editing suite, but a revealing glimpse for wider Australia of an arrogant government minister in an arrogant, tired government too used to compliance from sections of the local media. 

Tone deaf, she marched on ignoring the reporter’s insistent questioning until, as she was about to disappear down a staircase, she was asked if she had anything to say to the bereaved families. The mask dropped and there was a tremulous apology. Of sorts. 

Two days later, Leon Delaney, on 2CC’s “Canberra Live” drive program, took the minister to the observation of Prof Walter Abhayaratna, AMA ACT president, that there were some changes to the hospital’s early warning pediatric protocols that could be “implemented immediately”.

“I don’t think Walter is right about this. I’m going to be blunt. I don’t think he is reporting this issue fairly,” she said. 

Well, of course, what would Walter know, anyway? He only practices at Canberra Hospital and isn’t briefed to any level like the minister is. 

“I really would emphasise that there is, in fact, no completed investigation that indicates that the actions of Canberra Hospital resulted… was contributing to the eventual outcome,” she blundered on.

That would be because the coroner is looking at it and is probably months and months away from forming any view?

Then when Delaney got to the question of empathy, we broadly discovered she hasn’t got any. She sent the grieving family of the five-year-old an email of sympathy. An email, sweet Jesus!

A simple message offering the opportunity of a meeting is not a difficult thing to do, mused Delaney?

“I think it’s very easy to say that in hindsight, but it would not be the normal thing to do [children dying in these circumstances in our hospitals is “normal”, minister?].”

Then it got worse: “The thing that really frustrated me about this is Ms Castley met with the family; she appears to have known they were expecting some senior outreach from me or the CEO or chief operating officer at the Canberra Hospital.”

Ms Castley is Leanne Castley, the opposition health shadow, suddenly dragged into the interview.

“She didn’t tell me that. She waited a week. She didn’t pick up the phone to me to say, hey, the family’s in distress, this family needs support. 

“She knew that before it was in the media. She’s got my phone number; she didn’t call me, she didn’t text me; she didn’t send me an email.”

Well, boo-hoo-hoo, Rachel. With all the resources of the Health Directorate, you’re calling out a fellow member of the Legislative Assembly for having the wit to come down from the ivory tower and demonstrate empathy to a grieving family. 

At the end of the “ACA” report, anchor Tracy Grimshaw intoned that the chief minister was standing by the health minister and the ACT government would wait for recommendations from the coroner before making any changes to the health service… 

Just as Skills Minister Chris Steel won’t do anything about the CIT until the Integrity Commission reports; just as Corrections Minister Mick Gentlemen won’t act on allegations of drug parties among prison staff until the Integrity Commission reports. 

AND through all this, Health Minister Stephen-Smith is enjoying a pay rise to $301,070. 

Mind you, it took the community weeks, no, months, to discover the political class has been quietly given a pretty tasty pay increase. 

Compliments of the media-shy Independent Remuneration Tribunal, members of the ACT Legislative Assembly got a 3.25 per cent lift from July 1. 

That means we are now paying a base, annual salary for backbenchers of $177,100 (up $6000). 

Andrew Barr gets a $11.5k leg up as chief minister with his salary now tipping $371,910 and Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee takes home $301,070.

And while your eyebrows are up: Deputy Chief Minister Yvette Berry is on $318,780 and Deputy Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson trousers $212,520.

The head of the ACT public service Kathy Leigh, she who – eight years in the job – was unable to answer the Liberals’ question about how many times maladministration, corruption or fraud was reported to her as required under the ACT Public Sector Management Act at the recent estimates hearings, is now enjoying $434,014 a year. That’s $62,104 more than her boss, the chief minister. 

Ian Meikle is the editor of “CityNews” and can be heard with Rod Henshaw on the “CityNews Sunday Roast” news and interview program, 2CC, 9am-noon. There are more of his columns on citynews.com.au