Page 93 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 24 May 1989
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To expand our involvement in health promotion, we are considering the establishment of a health promotion foundation. Such foundations exist in Victoria and South Australia. These are funded by revenue from tobacco sales.
As a result of community concern about health services in the ACT, the then Minister responsible established the Kearney inquiry. In the wake of this inquiry, two bodies have been established. I refer to the interim hospital board and the steering committee which is examining the options identified by Dr Kearney. We know that many of the problems that exist are due to the rundown state of the buildings of the Royal Canberra Hospital. When we have examined the report of the steering committee we will be in a position to begin considering the best way forward. In this process we will be consulting with all parties interested and concerned about the future of ACT hospitals. There is a perception in the community that our hospitals have suffered from a high level of disruption in recent years. The Government plans through negotiation to work towards more harmonious relationships and to ensure as far as possible that no breakdowns in communication occur.
As the population of the ACT ages, more provision will have to be made for the elderly. We are working in partnership with the Federal Government to develop better home and community care programs. We want to assist elderly people to remain independent for as long as they choose, and to then have choices about the types of accommodation they would like when they need assistance. We will support the community options program, which has just begun under the auspices of the ACT Council on the Ageing.
An area of concern to the Canberra community is drug and alcohol abuse. The Government is aware of the devastating effect that drugs have on general well-being and health, and will ensure that as much as possible is done to prevent drug abuse. We will continue our participation in the ministerial council on drugs strategy, which manages the national campaign against drug abuse. We share the costs of that program so that our citizens can be well informed.
For people who need assistance in relation to their problems with drugs or alcohol, we will ensure that satisfactory facilities are available to them. We want to expand rehabilitation programs and expand our methadone program.
We will undertake all the measures I have outlined in close consultation with the community through the Alcohol and Drugs Advisory Service Committee. The committee has representation from service providers and peak community groups.
Occupational health and safety is an issue of particular concern to me, so I was pleased yesterday to sign an occupational health and safety agreement between the ACT Trades and Labour Council and the ACT Health and Community
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