Page 3656 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 28 October 2014
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Every day in our lives we face risks. That is normal. However, we do not, as humans, cope with regular and extended periods of stress and anxiety, and I am sure all here know that it is a recipe for post-traumatic stress conditions and unsafe working environments if it goes on. So I hold grave concerns for staff of facilities operating as quasi correctional centres where the corrections staff are living in close quarters with non-corrections clients. I am sure we will have to see how that goes. This bill paves the way for that in the new secure mental health facility when it is finally built over the next couple of years.
In conclusion, I would like to say that the bill is welcomed. The bill has many improvements for the community. The bill is built around a recovery concept, which is a modern mental health concept which is very good. I think it gives people the benefit of the opportunity to be considered able to recover, which, in many instances, is the case. I think it lacks any significant improvement for carers who in our society are some of the most valuable members of our community that we have, dealing with some of the most difficult to assist people that we have. I find that very disappointing but, overall, the bill is an improvement and we will be supporting it.
DR BOURKE (Ginninderra) (12.15): I understand from Mrs Jones’s speech that she believes that medical staff, health practitioners, should divulge to family the nature of the circumstances of people’s health issues, particularly in this regard, mental health. This is a significant problem, because it is effectively an attack upon the confidentiality principle which is at the core of patient care. Confidentiality is important because it creates trust between the practitioner and the patient. It encourages patients to be honest and open about their condition and what is happening with them and also increases the willingness of patients to attend for medical treatment.
The situations which she described are indeed difficult for health practitioners to work in, but at the core of that principle of confidentiality is something that I do not believe should be discarded in such a cavalier fashion. Personal consent is a key human right. Our consent to the divulging of our medical information should be sought from us before it is shared with others.
MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo) (12.17): I rise today in support of the bill before us. This is a bill of great importance to many vulnerable people, their carers and families and the broader community. Its implementation will also affect the work of thousands of professionals—from police to courts, counsellors, advocates, nurses, psychologists and more. It is no exaggeration to say that this is an important bill that deserves the attention of the Assembly and the community as it navigates the complex balance of rights and responsibilities of people with often very intensive support needs.
It has received a lot of attention. I am pleased to note that this bill has been the most widely consulted and discussed bill that I have seen in my time in the Assembly. I note Mrs Jones’s chuckles and her, I guess, rather different comments on the length of the gestation of the bill. But certainly the ACT Greens and the staff in my office have been seeking briefings and engaging with the relevant stakeholders on this piece of legislation since 2006 until very recently.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video