Page 1612 - Week 04 - Thursday, 29 March 2012
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(14) Were those targets referred to in part (13) met; if not, why not.
(15) What was the total cost of staff learning and development during the reporting period as a percentage of total employee costs.
(16) What is the office’s target percentage cost of learning and development to total employee costs.
(17) When is it anticipated the office will meet that target.
(18) What proposals has the office advanced to the Government in terms of the scope of the second part of this review and how has the Government responded.
(19) What resources will the office require to complete this work and how has the Government responded.
(20) Is the Attorney-General able to say whether there are matters of concern to the office in the Government’s response to the preliminary report, particularly in relation to the advice the Government received from the Solicitor-General; if so, how does the office intend to address those concerns.
Mr Corbell: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
1) The Public Advocate has indicated that her office does experience pressure in meeting its statutory obligations due to increases in the number of people brought to the attention of the Office requiring substitute decision making and advocacy services and the growing complexity of these matters.
The Public Advocate advises me that she has, however, been able to meet her statutory obligations.
2) The Public Advocate advises me that she has been able to meet her statutory obligations. I am not aware of any breach of legislation by the Public Advocate, although I am aware the Office closely monitors the impact of the workload on current resources to identify risks.
3) The Public Advocate advises me that she has been able to meet her statutory obligations.
The Government will consider the resourcing and funding needs of the Public Advocate in the context of priorities across the broad range of ACT Government services.
4) The Public Advocate has the opportunity to submit proposals for consideration as part of the budget process.
5) The Public Advocate should, and advises me that she does, decline work that does not fall within her statutory functions.
The Public Advocate is not in a position to decline work when appointed as guardian of last resort by the ACAT. This is also the case when the Public Advocate is appointed emergency guardian. Increasingly, the Public Advocate is attorney of last resort because some people in our community completing their Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPA) have no one else in the community to appoint or are in conflict with their family or loved ones.
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