Page 2875 - Week 09 - Thursday, 14 September 2023
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As to Mr Milligan’s contribution, I look forward to Mr Milligan convincing his colleagues to allow him to ask a question in question time to me and to the Minister for Disability—to anyone, really, in his disability portfolio. Or perhaps Mr Milligan might be allowed to move a motion in his shadow portfolio of disability. As he noted, he could have moved an amendment to today’s motion. But, of course, he then contradicted his own argument by saying that the Disability Strategy should be completed before we take the next step.
This is an important motion and one that ACT Labor wholeheartedly supports. Neurodivergent people make an invaluable contribution to the ACT. At a personal level, I know that I and my office have benefited greatly from having a number of neurodiverse staff over the years, people who have helped us look at things differently and raised our consciousness about the way we equally engage with one another.
ACT Labor will always stand up for the rights of neurodivergent people to stand as equal members of the ACT community. That includes ensuring that neurodivergent people have equitable access to health care and other essential services and that these services respect and cater for the different ways in which neurodivergent people experience and interact with the world around them. I look forward to progressing Mr Pettersson’s proposals, in my capacity as Minister for Health, and I commend Mr Pettersson’s motion to the Assembly.
MR PETTERSSON (Yerrabi) (3.54): I would like to thank all members for their interest and contributions to this debate today. I would like to thank all the neurodivergent members of our community and their families for their continuing advocacy. I would particularly like to thank the Australian Autism Alliance. Their passion and advocacy is outstanding and their deep understanding of the policies and strategies in place around the country, living here in the ACT, and the need for a neurodiversity strategy here in the ACT cannot be faulted.
A neurodiversity strategy can provide an important policy framework that can set specific goals and targets that drive comprehensive and evidence-based public policy. Research shows us that, when the right policies and proper supports are in place, we can improve outcomes for neurodivergent people. Let’s continue to build an inclusive Canberra that recognises the strengths of our diverse community.
Amendment agreed to.
Original question, as amended, resolved in the affirmative.
Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2022 [No 2]
Debate resumed from 21 September 2022, on motion by Ms Lee:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
MR STEEL (Murrumbidgee—Minister for Skills, Minister for Transport and City Services and Special Minister of State) (3.56): I rise today to speak on Ms Lee’s Freedom of Information Bill 2022 [No 2], on behalf of the government and the Chief Minister. While Ms Lee’s bill deals with the release of cabinet documents—a matter
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