Page 2606 - Week 09 - Thursday, 16 September 2021
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MS VASSAROTTI: At the beginning of the outbreak at Condamine, there were people who went in straightaway to ensure that people knew what was going on, and information was collected about the types of needs to be provided. The Community Services Directorate then came in and provided some essential services. It did take some time for us to work out how to best support these clients, and by the second week of the pandemic—
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, we do not need your commentary.
MS VASSAROTTI: There were a range of strategies provided, because we are dealing with people—we have people with different types of needs and different requirements, and we were trying to provide a very person-centred response. So we were going to see some different things trialled during the period. My understanding, from the feedback provided, in particular, is—was because we provided that 24-hour line that people could access so that they could tell services what their needs were—that we were able to respond to needs as they emerged.
MR HANSON: Minister, how many compliance checks were done of residents at Condamine Court, and how many police actions were taken as a result of breaches over the two weeks of quarantine there?
MS VASSAROTTI: I thank Mr Hanson for the question. That is something that I will need to take on notice. There was a multi-agency response that happened over the period of quarantine and it did involve ACT Policing. A range of strategies were put in place. We certainly looked at how we could provide people with all the support they needed in order to maintain their quarantining. We will get you some specific information on notice about any specific notices that were required to support quarantining.
ACT Corrective Services—COVID-19
MR HANSON: My question is to the Minister for Corrections. Minister, on 11 September a man from a vulnerable community at Jervis Bay was subjected to a bewildering, chaotic and disorganised series of events. In a single day he was detained at the AMC, released on bail, told he was a close contact for COVID-19, directed to isolate at ANU, told he could not isolate at ANU, taken to an interstate caravan park for isolation, told he was not a close contact after all, stranded without money or identification, and told he would need to isolate at home despite having no way of getting back there. Minister, what damage has this man’s interaction with the ACT corrections system caused him, and what has your government done to repair this damage?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Mr Hanson for the question. This is a matter that I have asked officials, of course, to look into. I am also mindful that it may remain before the courts.
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