Page 1720 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 8 May 2013
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
This is what we have been doing in the mental health system so that we have one of the best mental health systems in the country. You go and ask the experts about what they think has happened to the mental health system here under our watch and compare it to what happened when the Liberals were in power, and that is why we are on this side and that is why you are on that side, Mr Hanson.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Gentleman.
MR GENTLEMAN: Can the minister outline the other initiatives that the government has put in place to support people living with mental illness in the ACT?
MS GALLAGHER: Indeed, I just go on from the previous question where I outlined a number of new services, services that were not even on the drawing board before this government came in and actually showed an interest in people with mental illness and providing appropriate care to them. The community mental health sector, which we work closely with, has changed significantly over that time as well. We are now spending about 14.3 per cent of the mental health budget on the community mental health sector. We have the highest level of funding going into the community mental health sector than any other jurisdiction. I think over 50 per cent of that $100 million goes into caring for people in the community where they live.
I have written today to Mr Rattenbury and Mr Hanson around a briefing on the very significant work that is being done on the review of the Mental Health (Treatment and Care) Act, which is now at its second exposure draft stage and open for consultation. As we have not had any interest from the Liberal Party in that process, I am now inviting them to come and show some interest in what is perhaps one of the most critical pieces of legislation that this Assembly will pass in relation to how we treat people who may have impaired decision making—how we treat them with respect and dignity and how we afford them the rights, as they can be afforded, within their mental capacity at a certain period in time.
We have had groups taking part in all the consultations. We have had over 40 different government and non-government groups taking part. Consumers, carers, have been at the table for probably the last four to five years. We will get this legislation right. Hopefully it will be introduced to the Assembly in late 2013.
Transport—bicycle storage
MR WALL: My question is to the Minister for Territory and Municipal Services. Minister, recently you provided an answer to a question on notice, No 91, relating to secure bicycle storage cages and lockers. You indicated in your answer that four cages and 69 lockers had been erected or installed across the city, at a total cost of $572,500 plus maintenance costs which you were unable to quantify. You also stated the security systems for the cages did not collect occupancy data. You said that the cages had 127 registered users and the lockers had 34 registered users. Minister, what assessment have you made as to the cost versus the benefit of these facilities?
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video