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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 09 Hansard (Thursday, 19 August 2004) . . Page.. 3917 ..

Small Business Commissioner Bill 2004

Debate resumed from 5 August 2004, on motion by Mr Quinlan:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

Debate (on motion by Mrs Cross) adjourned to the next sitting.

Sitting suspended from 11.53 to 2.30 pm.

Questions without notice

Rehabilitation Independent Living Unit

MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, my question without notice is to the Minister for Health. Welcome back, Minister. This Assembly passed a motion supporting the Rehabilitation Independent Living Unit (RILU). The final paragraph of the motion stated:

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

However, Professor Don Aitkin of the NRMA-ACT Road Safety Trust wrote an article in the Canberra Times strenuously opposing proposals to shut down RILU. Professor Aitkin said:

I understand that the proposal continues to be a live one and that is demoralising to the staff and most worrying to the patients.

Minister, what actions has the government taken to comply with the Assembly’s directions since that sitting?

MR CORBELL: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. Mr Speaker, the government has been considering the options in relation to the transitional care facility. Obviously it is important that we resolve the future of that facility as well as the future of RILU itself. The government is very conscious of the Assembly’s motion, and I expect some final advice to me very shortly.

MR SMYTH: Minister, has the government consulted with the NRMA-ACT Road Safety Trust about the future of the unit that it helped to establish?

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, I understand that in my absence the acting minister, Mr Wood, met with the chairman of the Road Safety Trust and spoke with him.

Mental health

MRS CROSS: My question is directed to the Minister for Health. A constituent has recently contacted my office and brought to my attention the fact that his daughter suffered from schizophrenia and that he and his wife had to look after his daughter for a substantial period. Whilst this constituent had nothing but positive comments about

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