Page 586 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 30 March 2021
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Since the Assembly last met, discussions and correspondence have occurred between the standing committee and the newly established Select Committee on the Drugs of Dependence (Personal Use) Amendment Bill 2021. That correspondence resulted in recognition by the standing committee and the select committee that matters to be the subject of inquiry of the standing committee’s original inquiry were likely to be examined by the newly formed select committee under the detailed terms of inquiry notified last week. Such a situation may have also caused unnecessary confusion in the community and among stakeholders.
As a result of discussions between the two committees, a joint media release from the two committees was published. It notes the decision by the standing committee to discontinue its self-referred inquiry.
For the reasons I have stated—regarding the provisions of standing order 217, which require a standing committee to ensure that it does not inquire into matters subject to examination by a select committee—the committee will take no further action on its self-referred inquiry and will remove notification of the inquiry and invitation for submissions from the committee website.
I note the considered tripartisan commitment of this Assembly to investigate the important matters raised in the two committees’ attendant inquiries and I look forward to that work later this year.
Statement by chair
MR DAVIS (Brindabella) (12.03): Pursuant to standing order 246A, I wish to make a statement on behalf of the Standing Committee on Health and Community Wellbeing relating to a newly self-referred inquiry which the committee has resolved to undertake.
The standing committee commences this inquiry as a result of matters I dealt with in my statement a few moments ago. The committee’s inquiry will be a review of all aspects of current screening and health assessment programs and processes in the ACT for hearing, vision, speech, motor skill difficulties and general health of children and young people. Included in this review are two particular matters: current programs for screening, diagnosis, assessment and treatment in the ACT for foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, FASD; and the implementation of the National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Strategic Action Plan 2018–2028, the national FASD plan, in the ACT.
The committee will now invite submissions to the inquiry, and I will announce a hearing program in the near future. The committee will present its report to the Assembly by the end of November 2021. I seek leave to table the complete terms of reference for the committee inquiry.
Leave granted.
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