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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 06 Hansard (Wednesday, 23 June 2004) . . Page.. 2464 ..

removal of cigarette vending machines will serve as a reminder for businesses with regard to the prohibition on smoking in enclosed public places and will help prepare the community for this change in public policy. The prohibition of vending machines will fit into a considered and staged implementation of the ACT’s tobacco control framework.

I admit that this bill is not the one solution for the reduction of smoking in the ACT, especially smoking among children and young people, but it is an important step in the process. I note that the ACT Liberal Party included a policy of prohibiting vending machines in its platform at the last election. I note also that the health minister has given an indication that he will seriously consider this proposal after scrutinising the legislation.

I believe there is general consensus that this proposal is sensible and should be passed by this Assembly. I think we need to keep at the core of the debate what we are trying to achieve, which is better health outcomes for young people here in the ACT and better health outcomes for everybody in the ACT. We want to make sure that the sale of cigarettes and access to cigarettes is limited to those people over the age of 18. I commend this bill to the Assembly.

Debate (on motion by Mr Corbell) adjourned to the next sitting.

Rehabilitation Independent Living Unit

MR SMYTH (Leader of the opposition) (10.59): I move:

That this Assembly:

(1) notes:

(a) the remarkable achievements of the Rehabilitation/Independent Living Unit (RILU);

(b) the different functions performed by Ward 12B of The Canberra Hospital and RILU; and

(2) opposes any plans to reduce the capacity of RILU or transfer its beds to Ward 12B of The Canberra Hospital; and

(3) directs the Minister for Health to maintain RILU in its current location and maintain, at the very least, its current level of operation.

Mr Speaker, Mr Corbell has a problem of his own making, made through his inattention to the health portfolio, and made through the inability of aged care facility proponents to get through Mr Corbell’s planning system. His solution to the problem is to ask those in our community who need the service that RILU provides to forego that service; to ask their families to forego that service; and to ask the staff not to provide that service the best way they know how to, to pay for Mr Corbell’s incompetence. Mr Corbell’s solution to his problem is to rob Peter to pay Paul. But the price is too high. One supporter of RILU wrote to me—and, indeed, to Mr Corbell. This lady is a nurse who had a stroke. She said:

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