Page 6178 - Week 19 - Tuesday, 17 December 1991
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need. The Ainslie Village company has been prepared to accept a $20,000 debt to support the shelter for nearly a year, but can no longer afford to sustain such a loss that, in effect, the residents of the Ainslie Village are financing the shelter out of their own meagre allowances. What do you intend to do to ensure that your social justice principles are implemented and that these homeless men have overnight shelter in Canberra?
MR CONNOLLY: I thank Mr Moore for the question. I thank him for extending the courtesy, which he has done in the past, of giving notice of a question of detail, which enables a Minister to provide a timely and accurate answer. As Mr Moore notes, he is a director of Ainslie Village, which performs a very valuable service in the community, providing shelter for low income persons.
From May of this year, Ainslie Village has operated the shelter, which departed from its existing practice in that it did not require a guarantee that people using the shelter would in fact be able to pay tariffs. The shelter was established without approaching the supported accommodation assistance program, or SAAP, unit in the ACT for advice on the likelihood of funding. I am told that to date no application has been received by the SAAP unit from Ainslie Village for funds for this shelter.
The 1991-92 SAAP plan was originally approved by me and is currently with the Federal Minister. Without pre-empting his decision to approve or disapprove our priorities, I certainly can indicate that the need of single men, particularly younger men, is something that has been recognised in our priorities for future SAAP funding. I would suggest to Ainslie Village that they submit a request for SAAP funding in the ordinary way. While I cannot assure Ainslie Village that it would receive favourable consideration in front of other programs that may provide a similar service, I can say that this type of service is something that the Government is mindful of, and it is a priority of ours in terms of SAAP funding, which is of course a joint Commonwealth and Territory program.
Registration of Psychologists
MS MAHER: My question is directed to the Minister for Health, Mr Berry. Minister, at the moment the ACT is the only State or Territory in Australia that does not require psychologists to be registered. Considering the important part psychologists play in counselling and the increasing demand for counselling in many areas, there is at present the risk that unqualified practitioners could practise in the ACT. Because psychologists are not required to be registered, it can be difficult to obtain medical benefits. Minister, when does the Government intend to put in place the requirement for psychologists to be registered and, if no registration process is planned, why not?
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