Page 1347 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 5 April 2011

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increased. In 2010-11, 15 audits were undertaken, and we will target another 15 audits in 2011-12.

Work is also underway to strengthen the quality and compliance of services through the development of a pre-qualification process. This will allow for the necessary reassurances about quality, capability and eligibility of potential providers of disability services funded by the department of housing and community services.

The ACT government supports a no wrong door approach in service delivery in mental health and the disability sector. We know that finding formal supports and services when you do not know what you are looking for presents a challenge, even in a city as small as Canberra. The government is exploring a range of activities to strengthen and streamline access to information, including information resources, an agency help desk function, agency education and information and potentially developing an information-sharing network.

There is also a commitment across ACT human services agencies to make sure that service access is simplified and streamlined. Examples here include Housing ACT and Therapy ACT, where they have both developed a centralised intake system.

Again, I would like to thank the standing committee for this report and I would again like to thank the members of the committee and, importantly, I would like to thank those individuals and organisations who provided submissions and came before the committee. They certainly have added depth to the report which the government has responded to.

But we know that there are always opportunities for improvement in the way we provide and deliver services and we believe that this report will assist the government to build on the work undertaken since the Auditor-General’s performance audit No 3 of 2009, Managing respite care and services. Finally, I thank the committee for the report and I look forward to working through the recommendations.

Debate (on motion by Mr Doszpot) adjourned to the next sitting.

Cross-border relations

Discussion of matter of public importance

MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Mrs Dunne): Mr Speaker has received letters from Ms Bresnan, Mr Coe, Mr Doszpot, Mrs Dunne, Mr Hanson, Ms Hunter, Ms Le Couteur, Mr Seselja and Mr Smyth proposing that matters of public importance be submitted to the Assembly. In accordance with standing order 79, Mr Speaker has determined that the matter proposed by Mr Coe be submitted to the Assembly, namely:

The importance of cross-border relations.

MR COE (Ginninderra) (3.09): I think it is timely that we should be discussing this matter of public importance, that being cross-border relations. Of course the territory is an island in another jurisdiction and we as a parliament and the ACT government


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