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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 03 Hansard (Wednesday, 10 March 2004) . . Page.. 1007 ..

crossed his mind. I believe that we are going to be spending money anyway, considering the foreshadowed amendment of the Chief Minister to the motion today, which talks about visible and easily accessible services. It means that he is going to be taking these services out to the people out there. If people are happy to align themselves with and receive the services in that centre, why work harder, why reinvent the wheel, why throw the baby out with the bath water?

The publication put out by the government also talks about human recovery from emergencies and information for workers in emergencies. Under the heading “Long Term Responses (From months to years) it is stated:

Delayed reactions may include any short or medium term responses; changes in attitude, values, lifestyle, habits; loss of leisure and recreational interests; changes in friendship networks, isolation, preoccupation with disaster or recovery incidents; continuing pessimism, bitterness, resentment, distrust, unhappiness; marital, family or relationship problems; behaviour problems in children; changed work attitudes and motivation.

This is obviously notable by the calls that I have received to my office. I know that many other members have received calls too. We thought we were just over it, but we are now seeing children just beginning to manifest some of the situations and problems there. To incur more change in parents or carers lives in having to deal with children through this process I think is a little insensitive at this stage. I think the Chief Minister needs to think carefully before he moves down this path and takes on board, in the spirit that it is meant, the motion that is before him today. I hope that we can work together in a spirit of cooperation.

This is certainly not, as the Chief Minister is going to say, for political expediency. It would be very crass to even suggest that. We are really about wanting the best outcomes for people, surely. I support this motion. I acknowledge the Chief Minister’s foreshadowed amendment, but I believe that the loss of the recovery centre as it stands now could have quite a negative impact on the people who still avail themselves of the services there and who relate to that centre. The Leader of the Opposition alluded to the centre as being a symbol for many people.

It seems slightly unjust and unfair to just spring this decision on the community. I don’t believe that is an acceptable way to do that, given the delicate nature of what this centre represents and the great and fantastic work that it does. We must ensure that we bring the community with us. The government’s approach is to simply steamroll over people who, as I have said, are already in a very vulnerable position. On recovery from trauma, the publication states:

Most people recover from traumatic experiences, but it usually takes them longer than would be expected for non-traumatic crises.

It continues:

Sometimes people can maintain things for some time (although those around them often see that all is not well) and eventually something happens that brings it to the surface again. This can happen even months after the event.

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