Page 808 - Week 03 - Thursday, 25 March 1993
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That is not to take away the importance of benzodiazepines. For example, in a case of bereavement, or something like that, they really can provide an appropriate assistance. But one of the things that the community needs to do, I believe, is to look very carefully at our drug use and to minimise our drug use where possible. Most importantly, the theme that this committee, and the committee prior to it in the First Assembly, have followed in bringing down our reports is to concentrate on reducing the harm - that is priority No. 1 - associated with the use of any drugs, whether legal drugs or illegal drugs. In our final report, Madam Speaker, the committee will be taking exactly that same approach to the use of alcohol by young people. Madam Speaker, I thank members for their comments and I look forward to the government response to the committee's report.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
SOCIAL POLICY - STANDING COMMITTEE
Reference - ACT Housing Trust
Debate resumed from 25 February 1993, on motion by Mr Cornwell:
That the Standing Committee on Social Policy of this Assembly conduct an inquiry into the operations of the ACT Housing Trust.
Debate (on motion by Ms Szuty) adjourned.
PUBLIC ACCOUNTS - STANDING COMMITTEE
Statement by Presiding Member
MR KAINE (Leader of the Opposition): Madam Speaker, I seek leave to make a statement regarding a new inquiry by the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
Leave granted.
MR KAINE: I want to inform the Assembly that on 22 February 1993 the Standing Committee on Public Accounts resolved to inquire into the management of consultants and contractors by ACT agencies and authorities. Madam Speaker, this is a matter that has emerged out of consecutive Estimates Committee hearings. There seems to be some confusion in some quarters about the differences between a consultant and a contractor, and the terms and conditions under which they are employed. It is a matter that we will not be examining in the short term. I would like to point out that we have some major inquiries on our books already, including the investigation of information technology management, the financing of the health budget, and a review of the processes by which budgets are supplemented. Those matters are already in hand and they will take some months to complete. While we are taking on this inquiry, we do not expect to complete it until about the end of the year. That will give members some idea of the time when we expect to complete this new inquiry.
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