Page 940 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 17 March 2010
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
reasons for their support was that the efforts to increase voluntary compliance with the Australian standard had largely failed. The Victorian government also received feedback from the industry after the implementation of its interim regulations, and the industry again indicated that it remained broadly supportive of the arrangements.
I am writing today to members of the local solaria industry, the Cancer Council and health bodies, seeking their views on the legislation. I look forward to their feedback and do hope I am able to incorporate concerns they may raise. My office has already discussed the proposed legislation with the Cancer Council.
In tabling this bill, I must note that I received a letter from the Minister for Health last Friday afternoon, on the day that it went to the media, or the government went to the media, indicating that the government was still committed to seeing solaria regulated in the ACT and that ACT Health would begin drafting regulations which the minister hoped would come into effect in May. I welcome the minister’s commitment to this issue and do hope to work with the government further.
I do, however, take issue with any potential assumption that only the government can undertake policy development of this kind and that, instead of being willing to work with my legislation, which I announced in February, the government believes it now has to come up with its own regulations.
I also take issue with the government undertaking such an approach time and time again. We cannot help but assume that, with such suspicious timing, this government is interested only in trying to get in first on regulating a dangerous industry, an industry which this government promised many times it would regulate. The Greens have, as of today, initiated the necessary consultation with affected groups, including operators. There is now a bill before the Assembly on this issue, and we call upon all parties here in this place to contribute to the task of reducing the very real risk that unsafe practices in the solaria industry present to our community.
Debate (on motion by Ms Gallagher) adjourned to the next sitting.
Health—cancer treatment
MR HANSON (Molonglo) (10.13): I move:
That this Assembly:
(1) notes that:
(a) numerous patients suffering from cancer in Canberra have been forced to travel interstate to receive radiotherapy treatment;
(b) patients were not advised by ACT Health that they would need to complete their therapy interstate until such time as they tried to access radiotherapy services in the ACT;
(c) patients were forced to call ACT Health repeatedly seeking information on their treatment before being advised that they would be required to travel interstate;
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video