Page 2416 - Week 08 - Thursday, 6 June 2013
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risk groups such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, new migrants and refugees, and the GLBTI community. We would like to acknowledge the allocation of the funding, and we look forward to consulting with the relevant stakeholders to ensure that the funding is actually going where it is needed.
In addition to the parliamentary agreement items, this budget reflects the positive legacy of Greens from the previous Assembly, where the Greens implemented numerous long-lasting changes. For example, the budget provides funding to expand the official visitors scheme to ensure that people in settings such as the jail, crisis refuges and aged-care facilities receive fair treatment and quality care. This stemmed from the official visitors legislation that the Greens introduced and passed last year—and that was further worked on this morning.
Likewise, the Greens introduced reforms to the ACT’s infringements system last year to ensure that people suffering financial or other hardships are treated fairly. The budget provides funding to administer this scheme, which will be of great benefit to some of the most vulnerable people in the territory.
When it comes to health, despite substantial efficiencies across the board in this budget, Canberrans will be pleased to see significant targeted funding for health, including $8.25 million to complete the planning and forward design stages of a new public hospital at the University of Canberra; $33 million for improving elective surgery waiting times; and $12 million for improving services at Canberra Hospital’s emergency department and establishing a rapid assessment unit at Calvary Public Hospital.
I am particularly pleased to see $9 million for the expansion and enhancement of the Belconnen community health centre, and especially to co-locate a walk-in centre at Belconnen as well as open another in Tuggeranong. We all appreciate the importance of these centres for their role in preventative health care and reducing emergency department pressure. This walk-in centre will be a great relief for both the north side of Canberra and residents in Tuggeranong.
I note significant funding of $45.5 million for increased inpatient beds over the next four years for both Canberra and Calvary hospitals. The 31 new beds include a four-bed stroke unit at Calvary which will be extremely beneficial for many families, especially given that some people have had to go to Sydney due to lack of beds here in the ACT in recent times.
As well as this covering an increase in hospital-in-the home places, there is $8.8 million for an outpatient service, including for cancer and for drug and alcohol services. It is vital that we invest in both these areas. Our hospitals need to have sufficient beds for those in need, but if people do not actually need to be in hospital it is important to be able to provide services to help people in their own homes. As this in turn reduces the pressure on the number of beds in hospital, the Greens are very supportive of this dual investment.
The Greens are also extremely pleased to see increased funding of $1.2 million for advance care planning over the next four years. We took this to the election last year,
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