Page 6088 - Week 18 - Thursday, 12 December 1991
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reference to a private members' Bill introduced, I think, by Mr Braithwaite in the House of Representatives in relation to the proposed change from so-called sheltered workshops to community employment.
It is perhaps a difference more of rhetoric than of reality. I am sure we would all agree that, wherever possible, it is best to move away from that type of employment to the type of employment which successive ACT governments have done a lot to promote. Indeed, it is with some pride, I think, across both governments, that the ACT Department of Urban Services won the Prime Minister's award for placing people with disabilities into the workplace.
The Commonwealth Government will, under the disability services agreement, have prime responsibility for employment related matters. That does include, essentially, the so-called sheltered workshops. It is true that Mr Howe does have a goal of de-institutionalising as far as possible, and there was originally a June 1992 deadline imposed. Mr Humphries said that it was a very short time and it will all happen from June of next year.
In fact, at the ACROD conference in October of this year Mr Howe indicated that that June 1992 deadline would not be imposed. The Commonwealth will still be encouraging services, if they wish to continue support, to meet the de-institutionalisation-type goals; but there will now be no strict deadline and there will be encouragement for institutions to work out appropriate plans for their individual circumstances. So, there is not that strict timetable.
Mr Humphries mentioned Chartwell Crafts. Of course, members would be aware of the tapestry that graces our foyer. I have spoken to my advisers and they are not aware that there is, potentially, a problem with Chartwell Crafts; but if there is we would, as I am sure any ACT government would, regardless of its political persuasion, intercede with the Commonwealth Government to make sure that people there are not being disadvantaged.
The only other point that I wish to comment on is Mr Collaery's reference to the work that the Housing Trust has done. It is a good example of agencies working together. The Housing Trust and the people working in disability services have combined to provide a range of appropriate services to public housing tenants, including the aged persons units which he specifically mentioned. I think the aged persons units program in the Housing Trust is really leading the way in how we can achieve higher urban densities in a very aesthetically pleasing and appropriate manner.
Also, houses are being provided to allow people with intellectual disabilities to leave some of the institutions in this Territory and live lives that are far closer to community norms and, to an untrained eye, if it is an appropriate term to use for a person such as me, a
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