Page 2748 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 16 August 2005

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Victims of Crime (Victims Assistance Board) Appointment 2005 (No 1)—Disallowable Instrument DI2005-160 (LR, 14 July 2005).

Victims of Crime (Victims Assistance Board) Appointment 2005 (No 2)—Disallowable Instrument DI2005-161 (LR, 14 July 2005).

Victims of Crime (Victims Assistance Board) Appointment 2005 (No 3)—Disallowable Instrument DI2005-162 (LR, 14 July 2005).

Victims of Crime (Victims Assistance Board) Appointment 2005 (No 4)—Disallowable Instrument DI2005-163 (LR, 14 July 2005).

Waste Minimisation Act—Waste Minimisation (Fees) Determination 2005 (No 1)—Disallowable Instrument DI2005-110 (LR, 27 June 2005).

Workers Compensation Act—Workers Compensation (Fees) Determination 2005—Disallowable Instrument DI2005-146 (LR, 30 June 2005).

Drug treatment services for Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders

Discussion of matter of public importance

MR SPEAKER: I have received letters from Dr Foskey, Mr Pratt and Ms Porter proposing that matters of public importance be submitted to the Assembly. In accordance with standing order 79, I have determined that the matter proposed by Dr Foskey be submitted to the Assembly, namely:

The need for new and expanded services in the ACT to address Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander illegal and problematic drug use.

DR FOSKEY (Molonglo) (4.09): I want to talk today about the need for new and expanded services in the ACT to address Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander illegal and problematic drug use. I would like to draw the Assembly’s attention to the June 2004 report I want to be heard, an analysis of the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander illegal drug users in the ACT and region for treatment and other services. The National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health at the Australian National University and the Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service produced the report. The National Health and Medical Research Council funded the study under a special national illicit drugs strategy funding round.

This research project is in line with the recommendations of the ACT Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on Health and Community Care inquiry into Aboriginal health in the ACT 2001. The report states:

High quality quantitative research is required to track the extent of illicit drug use in the ACT indigenous community. The illegal and problematic use of drugs by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people raises a number of issues.

At page 18 the report continues:

This needs assessment had its genesis in widespread concerns expressed by local Aboriginal organisations and individuals, and others, about the prevalence of illegal drug use among young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the region, and the massive impact it is having on individuals, extended family and community life. Community leaders pointed to several unmet needs in the areas of prevention (including the upstream social determinant of health and illness), early intervention


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