Page 5124 - Week 17 - Wednesday, 12 December 1990
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Ross Walker is a retired public servant and a member of the ACT Aged Care Advisory Committee, vice-president of ACTCOTA, executive secretary of the Australian Affiliation of Voluntary Care Associations, member of the Richmond Fellowship and previously vice-president of ACTCOSS. Neil Ralph is a retired rear-admiral, a member of the Repatriation Commission, and previously Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, Department of Defence. There is also to be a nominee from the ACT Trades and Labour Council. As that has yet to be finalised, I am not sure why Mr Berry was expressing his concern in relation to that matter earlier.
At a time when the hospital system is experiencing a major program of restructuring, it is particularly important, Mr Speaker, that a strong board oversights and directs this process. In these times of change, there are also important opportunities to find new ways of working to improve the health services in the ACT by bringing together the responsibility for public and community services and hospital services at this critical time to ensure that the planning for health services will occur with all other sectors involved. There will be a strong focus on managing operations across the range of different community and institutional services administered by the board.
Mr Speaker, in line with the social equity commitments of this Government, the board will be charged with the following: to provide health services for the residents of the Territory and, as appropriate, for the residents of the surrounding region; to manage the health services and health facilities under its control; to provide for the planning and evaluation of health services, including services provided by persons or bodies (whether or not incorporated) other than the Board; to provide, as appropriate, for the training and education of persons providing health services; and to make available to the public reports, information and advice in relation to the health of the community and the availability of health services.
This charter, Mr Speaker, will ensure that the board works effectively and actively for the community to provide services efficiently and effectively. The Health Services Bill will ensure that the board has an appropriate statutory base, with powers to control its human and financial resources within the broad directions of the Government. Mr Humphries will, in fact, be moving several Government amendments - which I understand have already been circulated - which are the result of the further consultation that has happened since this Bill was introduced into the Assembly. I am sure he will have more to say on those amendments to this Bill a little later.
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