Page 4013 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 20 September 2017
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Mr Milligan and his predecessor Mr Wall have come into this place on many occasions and claimed to be advocating for good outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT. While this motion claims that the farm does not meet the needs of the local community, Mr Milligan does not propose any solution for what a solution would look like. I invite him, in his closing remarks, to provide the Assembly and the community with an assurance that the Canberra Liberals are interested in constructive solutions, including considering a lease variation to the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm site to allow clinical services to be provided at the facility. It would be a welcome sign that those opposite are not just interested in attacking the government when the moment arises but are genuinely willing to put their time and efforts into improving outcomes for their local communities.
What I heard today was a series of criticisms. I heard Mr Milligan talking about the fact that there were more costs. It was an interesting observation because he said, “The costs blew out; they had to pay for the asbestos to be removed.” Yes, that should have been spent. I am comfortable with the fact that that money was spent. “They had to spend money on an access road.” Yes, that money had to be spent on an access road. If the suggestion is that the asbestos should not have been removed or the access road should not have been built, let us be open and honest about that.
Mrs Dunne: No, you should have planned better.
MR RATTENBURY: Mrs Dunne will have her chance to intervene in a moment. Mr Milligan was heard in silence. Even though I did not agree with everything he said, he was heard in silence.
What we know is that this has a long and controversial history, but it is a complex issue to change the lease. It is something we will have to deal with very carefully with the community. If we want to get the outcomes that Mr Milligan is alluding to then this Assembly needs to work together to do that, and to take that community on the journey.
The Greens are willing to go down that pathway. If we want to get the model that people are talking about, that is what is needed. Let us hear from those opposite that they are willing to have that conversation as well, so that we can have a serious conversation about getting to the model that they are discussing.
In conclusion I want to acknowledge the work of the United Ngunnawal Elders Council and other Indigenous community groups who have worked so hard for so long to see this project become a reality. It is important that the community continue to play a central role in designing a culturally appropriate model of care and implementing the services at the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm. By continuing to work with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, the Greens believe this facility can help improve the health and wellbeing of Indigenous people in the territory, particularly those struggling with drug and alcohol addictions. As I have indicated, the Greens will be supporting the motion as amended.
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