Page 2298 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 1 November 1989
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Mentally Disturbed Offenders
MR COLLAERY: My question is addressed to the Chief Minister as Minister for justice. I draw her attention to reports this week in the Canberra Times, in which again the chief magistrate, Mr Cahill, has drawn attention to the lack of proper facilities for mentally disturbed or apparently mentally disturbed persons before the courts. I ask the Minister whether this longstanding issue, constantly raised by the Residents Rally and commented upon by the chief magistrate, will receive proper attention from her Government. I note that some provision was made in the budget for counselling and some support facilities at the remand centre and Woden Valley Hospital, but these matters do not include a purpose-built facility for the accommodation and the assessment of these persons.
MS FOLLETT: I thank Mr Collaery for his question. As he has pointed out, the Government has addressed this matter in a preliminary way in our current budget, which is before the Assembly. We have made some provision in that budget for enhanced facilities for mentally disturbed or psychiatrically ill offenders in the ACT.
It is an area that is extremely difficult to deal with. Our first proposal in the draft budget was apparently not satisfactory to the majority of people who are well informed on these matters, so it has been subject to some revision. We have taken some steps in this first budget towards assisting people who are in this very unfortunate position. I am aware of Magistrate Cahill's continuing concern as well.
Mr Speaker, it is certainly an issue that needs some very close attention. I am confident that Mr Berry, as Minister for Community Services and Health, has that whole matter of the mentally ill under close scrutiny. As I say, we have made some provision in the budget for enhanced facilities to accommodate these people who unfortunately come before the courts.
MR COLLAERY: I ask a supplementary question. Chief Minister, I welcome your comments, but I draw attention again to the chief magistrate's comments being, as they are, after your budget has come down. I draw to your attention that you have spent $299,000 in your budget for a tearoom at the Belconnen tip. I ask you whether you are prepared to reorder your priorities in the light of - - -
Mr Whalan: On a point of order Mr Speaker; this particular question is totally out of order.
MR COLLAERY: Why? Does it hurt? Does it hurt me?
MR SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Whalan: Mr Collaery, where it hurts you, it doesn't hurt me; I can assure you of that.
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