Page 288 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 20 February 1990
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MR WHALAN: Will the Government assure this Assembly that no Executive Government resources are used by Mrs Nolan in pursuit of her interests as a backbench member?
MR KAINE: All I can say in answer to that question is that I have made it quite clear to the members on this side of the house - and I am not sure whether it is clearly understood by members on the other side or whether they abide by it - that there is a clear distinction between the work of the Government and the work of a member as an elected member in terms of their constituency. I have made it quite clear that the distinction is to be carefully noted and that constituency work is not to be made a charge against the public purse. I hope that the members of the Opposition are mindful of that and are equally conscious of it, but I suspect that they are not.
Child Abuse Clinic
MS MAHER: My question is directed to the Minister for Health. Last year in the Canberra Times an article on 28 November commented that the child abuse clinic at Royal Canberra Hospital, which closed in June, would reopen early this year. Can the Minister advise the Assembly if the child abuse assessment clinic at Royal Canberra Hospital will reopen and, if so when?
MR HUMPHRIES: It is true, as Ms Maher has indicated, that the child abuse assessment clinic at Royal Canberra Hospital closed, or was substantially closed, in June last year. On coming to office this Government was concerned that the service should be re-established as soon as possible in order to provide that very valuable service to the people of Canberra. Child abuse in all its forms can have profound long-term effects on the child, the family and the community, and early intervention can both minimise the damage and facilitate the healing process.
I am pleased to advise the Assembly that the child abuse assessment clinic at Royal Canberra will shortly commence expanded operations. A paediatrician has been appointed on a part-time basis and specialist social workers are currently being recruited. The paediatrician, who is responsible for undertaking urgent and routine medical examinations, commenced on 1 February this year. Interviews for specialist social workers for the child abuse clinic will take place on Thursday of this week. It is anticipated that appointments will be made fairly shortly after that. However, some referrals for social assessment are being accepted by existing staff in the social work department. Special care has been taken to outfit the clinic with appropriate furniture and a suitable area in the hospital has been set aside which is both accessible and discrete.
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