Page 1078 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 20 March 1991
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Mr Berry: I withdraw it, Mr Speaker, but I still retain the view.
MR SPEAKER: That is a qualified withdrawal, Mr Berry.
Mr Berry: It is not qualified. I withdraw it.
Mr Connolly: Mr Speaker, to say that someone stigmatises someone is now deemed unparliamentary. I presume that, under your ruling, "You hypocrite" from Mr Collaery stands, does it, or will he be asked to withdraw?
MR SPEAKER: In that circumstance, Mr Collaery, I would ask you to withdraw, because the imputation there was that it was - - -
MR COLLAERY: Certainly, Mr Speaker. I reacted too strongly to what Mr Berry said.
Mr Speaker, for those of us who have been to those places - and I am sure that Mr Berry and Mr Wood and other members have been to the places, none of which I want to stigmatise too much by talking about them, or the people in them - I want to say that we meet very dedicated staff. If Mr Berry referred to the last budget of the Alliance Government, he would know that we put half a million dollars into a new policy proposal to provide new respite care beds in this sector.
Also, Mr Speaker, we have followed on the initiatives that have been evolving interstate and here on deinstitutionalisation at places. I think Mr Berry was alluding to the Bruce Hostel situation when he took a point off me. He well knows from his time as Minister what an awkward situation that institution presents, and how very delicate negotiations need to be to reassure parents who have understandable concerns about whether their children will be safe if they are moved to a residential setting.
I am pleased to say that I have been personally involved in oversighting the move of six people from that hostel-type environment, which is a little antiseptic, to Stirling House, which is out in one of the southern suburbs. That is a great house to visit. It is marvellous to go through the rooms and see how homely they are, and how the occupants have developed concepts of possession, of owning and having their own home. It is a slow process of socialising some of these people, and I commend the staff at Stirling House.
Mr Speaker, members are well aware - and I thank the Opposition for being understanding at the time on the issue - how awkward it was to close Birralee, to move the occupants to Melba, and then to move the Melba occupants to Charnwood. That involved me on occasions in meetings with parents, and a great deal of stress and strain, but I am advised that the young people are enormously happy now at Charnwood. They are very happy with having a kitchen, a lounge room, a television and a homely environment.
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