Page 5790 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 7 December 2010

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Leave granted.

MRS DUNNE: Scrutiny report 31 contains the committee’s comments on eight bills, 13 pieces of subordinate legislation, seven government responses and one regulatory impact statement. The report was circulated to members when the Assembly was not sitting.

In relation to the Fair Trading (Australian Consumer Law) Amendment Bill, the committee was impressed by the lengthy exposition provided to the Victorian parliament when it was considering the uniform national law. Both the explanatory statement and the statement of compatibility for the Victorian bill are the standard the committee would like to see provided for all ACT legislation.

I commend the report to the Assembly.

Health, Community and Social Services—Standing Committee

Report 4

MR DOSZPOT (Brindabella) (10.22): I present the following report:

Report 4 of the Standing Committee on Health, Community and Social Services entitled Love Has Its Limits—Respite Care Services in the ACT, together with a copy of the extracts of the relevant minutes of proceedings.

I move:

That the report be noted.

The Auditor-General’s report into the management of respite care services was brought to the committee’s attention by the public accounts committee. While the main focus of the audit was on government respite houses for people with a disability, the committee resolved to conduct an inquiry into respite services and to broaden the scope to include all respite care services. The committee received 45 submissions, with the majority of 32 from families caring for a child or adult with a disability. Submissions were also received from carers of people living with a mental illness and elderly parents, care recipients and disability and mental health service providers. Due to the sensitive nature of some of the submissions and to protect the confidentiality of the families, the committee withheld publication of names of 15 submissions and withheld a further seven from publication.

Prior to the public hearings, the committee held a public forum on 7 April 2010 that was attended by over 70 people. The first public hearing was held on 14 April 2010, followed by five further public hearings on 28 April, 21 July, 1 September, 3 September and 8 September, and we heard from 38 witnesses. The committee is grateful to all the participants who appeared and who provided written submissions.

Families have taken on the primary caring role since the deinstitutionalisation of people living with a disability and/or mental illness. While it is appropriate for


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