Page 2190 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 31 October 1989
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QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Water Fluoridation
MR MOORE: My question is directed to Mr Wood as chairman of the Standing Committee on Social Policy. Does the committee condone the actions of one of its members in strongly advocating a particular view when the committee has taken on the responsibility of looking into the matter of whether or not the ACT water supply should be fluoridated? How can the community now be assured that this will be an impartial committee?
MR WOOD: The Social Policy Committee is, as I am sure all committees are, concerned to gain the public confidence by the way that it conducts its business and in the report that we eventually bring down. The committee has discussed the way it intends to proceed, but I will not give any details of our discussion; I do not think that is necessary. I am sure that all members of the committee - and that includes me - are concerned to act in accordance with the normal practices and with due propriety. I am confident about the way the committee will be proceeding, and there will be no public discussion on the part of any of our members.
Foster Parents Program
MR HUMPHRIES: My question is directed to the Minister for Community Services and Health. It concerns the Galilee foster parent program and the review of this program which was foreshadowed in the ACT budget. I ask: can the Minister assure the Assembly that the review will be conducted by someone totally independent of the ACT Government? Will the review be carried out well before the six-month funding period will finish so that the Galilee organisation at least knows how to plan for the future? Will the Minister inform the Assembly what progress has been made towards getting this review up and running?
MR BERRY: I thank Mr Humphries for the question. During the budget consultative process these concerns were raised. One of the successes of the process was the Government's decision to take into account the complaints which were raised in respect of the Galilee issue. We have said that it will be an independent review, and that is exactly what was intended by that. I expect that that review will be conducted well in advance of the expiration of the six-month funding.
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