Page 1479 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 1 June 2022
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through Winnunga Nimmityjah, which is a really critical partner in delivering health services in the ACT. Indeed, more than 40 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over the age of 50 here in the ACT have already accessed flu vaccination. We are also offering free flu vaccinations for people with disability or mental health issues through the COVID access and sensory clinic.
MS LAWDER: Minister, what about those Canberrans for whom cost is a barrier and who are not part of the priority group, like older people or those with a disability?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Ms Lawder for the question. As I have just indicated, we are also offering free flu vaccinations for people with disability, people living with mental illness, their families, support staff, volunteers and carers through the access and sensory clinic at Weston Creek. We are looking at ways to expand to that. So far take-up has not been particularly significant in relation to that, but we have only just started to promote that opportunity. We are also ensuring that flu vaccine is available to health providers who support those who are hard to reach or the most vulnerable client groups, including Directions—
Ms Castley: On a point of order, the question was about those for whom cost is a barrier, not who can access it for free. What about those for whom there is a charge but they are too broke?
MADAM SPEAKER: The minister is within the policy area. It is in order.
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: Thanks, Madam Speaker. Again, Ms Castley’s understanding of this issue comes to the fore, because these groups are people who are not eligible under the national immunisation program but may have other barriers to access, including people from multicultural backgrounds and migrant and refugee backgrounds, through Companion House, through Directions and Interchange GP—those people who have other challenges in their lives that make it difficult for them to access mainstream health services but who are not eligible under the national immunisation program.
Canberra Health Services is also offering some people a flu vaccination when they present for other health care. That is primarily for people who are in a priority group and where it is appropriate in the setting. We are also considering other options to provide free flu vaccination should that be required in the local context, again, with an emphasis on those people who would have difficulty paying the relatively small cost of that flu vaccination, which I understand is about $20 if you go to a pharmacist.
Labor Party—Labor Club donations
MR PARTON: Madam Speaker, my question is to the Treasurer and Chief Minister. Chief Minister, I refer to an ABC study of 10 May, which states:
But nowhere in Australia is the flow of gambling losses to political parties more extreme than in the ACT.
In the decade to June 2020, gambling-related groups poured some $6.5 million into party coffers.
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