Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 10 Hansard (30 August) . . Page.. 3779 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

changes to treatment frequency strategies. They are just considering them, so they have put them out for discussion.

Recruitment activity is vigorous, but to date it has not been fruitful. We have one agency nurse available for two weeks in September, through a Sydney agency. The Canberra agencies have not been able to fulfil our requests. So there are quite a number of issues with that renal unit.

Public hospital waiting lists

MR MOORE: Mr Speaker, on 29 August Mr Rugendyke asked me a question about hospital waiting lists and a brochure. The first draft of that brochure was put out. It was widely distributed for comment. A second draft was produced and I am advised that it is anticipated the brochure will be complete and ready for public distribution by the end of September this year. It will be widely distributed, for example, in hospitals, doctors' rooms, pharmacies and health centres. Mr Speaker, should I lose my beard, the photo of me that is on it will not be able to be distributed widely, and that would be a disappointment to me. The draft of the thing is here and I will table it for the information of members. It is a pamphlet about access to elective surgery. I present the following paper:

Elective surgery-Copy of ACT Department of Health, Housing and Community Services brochure "Are you waiting for elective surgery?"

Individual support packages

MR MOORE: Mr Osborne, on 29 August, asked me about individual support packages, how many people access the ISPs, and what is the total cost each year. Mr Speaker, the short answer is that approximately 103 individuals are receiving approximately $4.2 million in packages, ranging from approximately $8,000 to $234,000. This is an increase over the last budget. The additional individual support arrangements during the last financial year were all auspiced by the non-government sector. The department is currently reviewing the process for considering requests and allocating individual funding. The review will take into account the outcomes of the disability inquiry, and consultation with the sector will be undertaken before any changes to the program are introduced.

Mr Speaker, when I first became minister I said there were two areas where I felt we were under-funded. One was in disability services, the other was in mental health. We have made very significant increases in those, but I still think there is a challenge. I still think there is an unmet need in both areas.

Cleaning contract

MR MOORE: Mr Speaker, yesterday, on 29 August, Mr Hargreaves and Mr Berry asked me questions with regard to an article in the Sunday Times on 26 August about the managing director of a high profile company. My answer is as follows: ACT Housing has a contract with a company named in the Sunday Times article to provide common area cleaning at some of its complexes up until 30 September 2001. I am advised that the contract with the company has a clause which requires the company to seek, in writing,

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .