Page 4843 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 27 November 2018

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MR HANSON: Sure. Is there asbestos in the Canberra Hospital that is currently being, or recently has been, renovated or remediated?

MS FITZHARRIS: I am sorry; did Mr Hanson say “is there” or “is the” asbestos?

MR HANSON: Minister, is there asbestos in the Canberra Hospital that is currently being, or has recently been, renovated or remediated?

MS FITZHARRIS: I will take the question on notice.

MR HANSON: Minister, is there any asbestos anywhere in the hospital that you are aware of?

MS FITZHARRIS: I do not believe so but I will take the question on notice.

MRS DUNNE: Minister, have you had any briefings about asbestos in the Canberra Hospital or other health facilities run by ACT Health?

MS FITZHARRIS: I will check the records but I would note the prevalence of asbestos in buildings of a particular age throughout the ACT. I will assume that yes, there is asbestos in a facility operated by ACT Health or Canberra Health Services. I will also ensure, as I would assume, that it is being properly managed relevant to all handling of asbestos-related materials particularly when it comes to renovations or upgrades.

Domestic and family violence—family safety hub

MS CODY: My question is to the Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence. Minister, you recently joined with Minister Fitzharris to launch the first family safety hub pilot service, which provides legal advice to pregnant women and new parents. Minister, why did the government decide that we needed this service, and how will it operate?

MS BERRY: I thank Ms Cody for her interest in domestic and family violence. It is timely to talk about this issue because, as members will know, the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence started on Sunday. I encourage everyone in this place who cares about ending violence against women to participate in the campaign where they can. Minister Fitzharris and I jointly launched this new pilot program along with our community partners, the Women’s Legal Service and Legal Aid ACT, and our health partners, Calvary Public Hospital, the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children and the Gungahlin Child and Family Centre.

There is a one-in-five risk of women experiencing violence from their partner during and after pregnancy. Of these women, a quarter experience violence for the first time when they are pregnant. These statistics are alarming. They are not acceptable. This is why the family safety hub took this matter up as its first challenge. The program has been co-designed through the work of the family safety hub, by stakeholders. It is designed to help pregnant women and new families who are experiencing or at risk of domestic and family violence to access free legal services.


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