Page 5227 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 27 October 2010
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against traditional models of GP clinics, we do think that co-ops will be a key part of the solution going into the future. We do hope that the government does, indeed, support that model as well.
I think it is important to note that governments are not the sole repository of knowledge and not the sole repository of delivering services. I think that is one of the great things about what is happening in west Belconnen with the co-op, both in Charnwood and at the new facility on Totterdell Street. But here you have the situation whereby community members identify a problem, step up, rise to the challenge and actually make something happen. Where possible, we, as the legislature, and the government, through their agencies, should not stifle such innovation and such entrepreneurialism. So I think it is very important that we make sure we have the framework in place that does support such community activism and does support communities coming together to make these things happen.
Mrs Dunne has already acknowledged a number of the people involved. I would like to make special mention of the current chairman, Michael Pilbrow, and the inaugural chairman, Roger Nicholl. I would also like to put on the record the opposition’s thanks to their families as well because, to take on a role such as this does take enormous time and does take enormous commitment and a lot of sacrifice from the families as well. So we very much support and thank the families for allowing their family members—namely, Michael and Roger—and indeed all those involved, to step up and to support the community in the way they do.
Again, I very much support Mrs Dunne and her moves to support the co-op and indeed to support other coops around Canberra.
Amendments agreed to.
MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra) (6.39): Very briefly, I want to thank members for the spirit in which they have entered into this debate today. I think this is an important motion. When people in the community act so well and with such commitment to their neighbours and it has such a fantastic result, I think that it is incumbent upon us to recognise that here. As Mr Coe says, governments are not the repository of all wisdom in this matter.
I do encourage the government to get on board and look at options for where this model might be replicated in the ACT. When you compare the amount of money that the commonwealth is proposing to spend in individual super clinics across the country, the outstanding success of this cooperative is done on a shoestring. I know that there is some interest in Tuggeranong for developing this model and I think it is incumbent upon the government to assist at least to the level that was provided to the West Belconnen Health Co-op, or in comparable 2010 dollar terms, so that that model may be replicated and that we learn from the experiences of this successful model.
I thank members for their contributions. First and foremost, I congratulate the West Belconnen Health Co-op on their astounding success.
Motion, as amended, agreed to.
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