Page 3962 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 23 October 1990
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I would reiterate that I believe that the actions of this Assembly were shabby in the extreme in relation to Mr Mandela's visit. I believe that members of the Government have in no way given that man the honour which he deserves and which, quite clearly, greater politicians than they have seen fit to give to Mr Mandela. As I have said, Mr Speaker, the support for Mr Mandela today was from all sections of politics and from all sections of the community; it is only within this chamber that we have a government which is not prepared to echo those sentiments.
Mental Health Week
MR HUMPHRIES (Minister for Health, Education and the Arts) (10.11): I do not know what Ms Follett is talking about. Along with other members on this side of the chamber, I supported an emphatic motion of support to Mr Mandela. I do not know what it is that is supposed to be shabby treatment. I am sure that, if Mr Mandela saw the motion carried by Government members in this Assembly, he would not think it was the least bit shabby.
I have risen, Mr Speaker, to remind the house that this week is Mental Health Week. It is a week designed to encourage members of the public to talk about what they can do to improve mental health in the ACT and to increase awareness of the needs of people who suffer from mental illness.
It is a valuable opportunity for us to reflect on a number of things. Firstly, there is the importance of changing community attitudes towards people who suffer from mental illness. In particular, we must improve the way in which people treat other people - particularly members of their families or people with whom they come into contact - who suffer from mental illness. Secondly, it is a way of improving our awareness of the resources available to assist such people, such as community resources, Government resources and voluntary and non-government organisational resources. Thirdly, it is an opportunity to pay some tribute to the many people who work in the area to provide services and relief to people suffering from mental illness. I would have to say that those people are a special breed; they are people who exhibit a particularly high degree of tolerance and understanding which I, myself, find hard to understand, but I am sure that other people who have watched that kind of work going on would be as quick to praise it as I am.
I was fortunate to open Mental Health Week yesterday, and I made reference to some of the initiatives that are currently in train in the ACT in respect of mental health. I might just mention some of the activities going on this week for Mental Health Week. There is a display all this week at the Woden Library on the subject. Its collection of literature on that subject is there for people to
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