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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 9 Hansard (3 September) . . Page.. 2832 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

above machines the capacity of a pentium computer. This is known as thin client technology, which I cannot explain because I am not exactly the world's best computer expert, by any stretch of the imagination. This technology enables us to keep up with changes in computers which occur very quickly these days.

As well as that, Mr Osborne, you will be pleased to hear that Professor Goldsworthy, I think, stated that all Australian governments should have as an aim that by the year 2000 all our high school students will have access to the Internet. I am pleased to say that 88 out of 98 government schools in the ACT are on the Net. That is about 90 per cent. It is, of course, a school's choice to be on the Net. There may be a few who do not choose to do so. The important thing is that all high schools and colleges are either on the Net or in the process of getting on the Net, and that puts us about three years in front of the good professor's recommendations in terms of education for high school students Australia-wide. I am also pleased to see that 25 out of the 42 non-government schools in the Territory are on the Net. That means, in both systems, that 81 per cent of all our schools are on the Net. The total number of connections in ACT schools, I am advised, is 196.

We have 1,600 ACT teachers or thereabouts using e-mail. In terms of teachers, Mr Osborne, there have been a number of developments there, too. In the last 18 months in excess of 1,600 staff have undertaken information technology training. In addition, information technology training has been supported by government-funded teacher network groups and other professional associations. That is the IT Network Forum. So, Mr Osborne, I think we have made significant advances in this most important part of education, not only for the benefit of our students but also for our teachers.

MS TUCKER: My question is to Mrs Carnell as Minister for Health. Mrs Carnell, this question is related to the question I asked yesterday. I am sure you are aware, but I will remind members, that according to the national mental health policy consumers must have access to information on their rights and to advocacy services to ensure their rights, and to mechanisms for complaint and appeal. The national mental health statement of rights and responsibilities states that every person admitted to a mental health facility or community program must have available to them a person who will represent them and whose task it is to advise and to protect their rights as long as that person wishes to have that representation. Yesterday, Mrs Carnell, in answer to my question, you stated that the five people who have moved into the community from Hennessy and Watson had not had advocates and that they had wanted to move out. I hope you are not suggesting that because they wanted to move out they were therefore not to be offered the assistance of an advocate. Can you clarify for the Assembly whether or not full opportunity and information to access an advocate is given to residents who are interviewed or have been interviewed regarding moving into the community from Hennessy or Watson, or do they have to take the initiative and ask for it themselves before it is provided? If this information was offered, how was it offered and by whom?

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