Page 2866 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 14 August 2018
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Plant Diseases Act—Plant Diseases (Importation Restriction Area) Declaration 2018 (No 2), including a regulatory impact statement—Disallowable Instrument DI2018-217 (LR, 23 July 2018).
Public Place Names Act—Public Place Names (Taylor) Determination 2018 (No 3)—Disallowable Instrument DI2018-219 (LR, 30 July 2018).
Road Transport (General) Act—Road Transport (Offences) Amendment Regulation 2018 (No 2)—Subordinate Law SL2018-14 (LR, 2 August 2018).
Leave of absence
Motion (by Mr Coe) agreed to:
That leave of absence be granted to Mr Wall for today through to Thursday, 16 August 2018 for personal reasons.
Appropriation Bill 2018-2019
[Cognate bill:
Appropriation (Office of the Legislative Assembly) Bill 2018-2019
Cognate papers:
Estimates 2018-2019—Select Committee report
Estimates 2018-2019—Select Committee—government response]
Debate resumed.
Health Directorate—Part 1.2
MRS KIKKERT (Ginninderra) (3.44): Mental health is one of the most important issues facing young people. Suicide is the leading cause of death for people aged 15 to 24 in Australia. It is therefore disappointing to hear that the government plans to cut funding for inpatient mental health services by nine per cent over two years. Our inpatient mental health services are already stretched, with the adult mental health unit at 105 per cent capacity for the year. These cuts will have a negative impact on the mental health of many young Canberrans.
The demand for mental health care is increasing, not falling. We are already hearing parents raising concerns about the lack of mental healthcare services for their children. The estimates committee recommended that the ACT government address the needs for a centralised facility or an adolescent step up, step down program. That is a good idea, but I understand this government will not be funding such a service for four to five years. The ACT government should urgently consider its plans to cut inpatient mental health services by nine per cent over two years.
MS LEE (Kurrajong) (3.46): I take this opportunity to speak on the Health Directorate appropriations, particularly on how it impacts on my portfolio area of disability. In early June Mr Rattenbury, in his capacity as a cabinet member and as Minister for Mental Health, was asked why the decision to restructure ACT Health did not go to cabinet. He replied:
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