Page 5988 - Week 18 - Thursday, 12 December 1991
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I really believe that we are in a position to do that. As I have already said, in considering the recommendations the committee was mindful of the need to ensure that the implementation occurred within existing funding levels.
In closing, I point out that the committee became aware in the course of its inquiry of two major issues which, in its view, warrant separate inquiries; namely, the provision of youth services and drug and alcohol abuse. I look forward to those matters being taken up by the Second Assembly. Mr Speaker, once again I thank all those involved. I commend the report to the Assembly and hope that the Government takes up the recommendations.
MRS NOLAN (10.58): Mr Speaker, I can say at the outset that I will not be quite as long as Ms Maher. I submitted a dissenting report, and I did so for many reasons. I want, first of all, to address some of the issues in relation to behavioural disturbance among young people. I then want to read parts of that dissenting report, because I think it clearly explains my reasons.
One of the things I have to say in relation to any committee report is that it is not the size of the report and the number of recommendations that are important. I was a little horrified to see a media release yesterday which stipulated the number of pages of a committee report. I do not think that is the issue. The report should clearly outline the deliberations of the committee and make the necessary recommendations for making changes in a specific area. I do not think the number of pages or the number of recommendations is relevant.
A lot of the work done by this committee and the bulk of the committee report, I support. Clearly, I think the emphasis was placed a little wrongly. While the original reference related to behavioural disturbance, the committee did not look closely at prevention but rather at the situation once people had behavioural disturbances.
I have already stated that, to deal with emotional and behavioural disturbances and social misconduct in our society's young people, it is necessary to start at a very early age. There is a long list of people who are affected, including people such as carers, parents, teachers, siblings, school peers, to name but a few. I am of the opinion that it is because of early unsuspected, unintentional negative conditioning that the number of people with behavioural disturbance is on the increase.
Currently in the ACT not enough emphasis is being placed on services to prevent and diagnose emotional health problems, and there is insufficient assistance to parents, who are primarily responsible for the personality development of infants and young children. Parents who talk with their children and help them develop ways of understanding the
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