Page 166 - Week 01 - Thursday, 9 April 1992
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Prevention and Detection of Cancer
MRS GRASSBY: My question is to the Minister for Health. Will the ACT Government be participating in the national screening program for the prevention of cervical cancer and the national program for the early detection of breast cancer? There are five ladies here who would be very worried about that and would like to know.
MR BERRY: This matter was raised in the course of the election campaign and I think the context in which it was raised would have caused some disquiet amongst women in the Territory. These programs are health initiatives and have the support of this Government. Funding arrangements for cervical screening programs were discussed at the recent meeting of the Australian Health Ministers, Madam Speaker, and a decision is expected to be announced following the meeting of the Australian Health Ministers Council on 14 April. Funding arrangements for the establishment phase of the breast screening program have been finalised with the Commonwealth Government.
The ACT programs will focus on facilitating close cooperation between service providers such as medical and nurse practitioners in the private and public sector by providing support in the form of education, training and quality assurance. Underscreened women will be a key program targeted by the cervical program. Women over 50 will be targeted by the breast screening program. The setting up of a cervical cytology register is being considered. The register will establish a recall system and provide a means for quality assurance and epidemiology research. It is anticipated that the result of both programs will be the saving of the lives of many women whose condition up until now has gone undetected and therefore untreated.
Madam Speaker, this was a good opportunity for this question to be answered because I think it is important, in the light of some criticism over these issues, that women in the ACT hear from the Government that we intend to support these programs for the protection of women in the ACT. Too much was said about it in the election campaign which was, I think, negative and, I think, caused some disquiet amongst residents. My response to that question should put at rest any disquiet and any concerns that people have about the Government's willingness to participate in these programs.
Koomarri - Staff Reductions
MR CORNWELL: My question is to the Minister for Education and Training. Mr Wood, I refer to a letter of 3 March from the president of the Koomarri Parents and Citizens Association to you and the Chief Minister expressing concern at teacher and special teacher assistant staffing cuts and, on behalf of the P and C Association, seeking a meeting to discuss these concerns which saw staff reduced by five, I understand, STAs by three and students by only 13. My question is: Has the meeting taken place, in view of the Government's much vaunted desire for community consultation; and, if so, what was the outcome of the meeting, considering that we are dealing here with a group of students, as you would be well aware, with very special needs?
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