Page 2260 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 15 September 1992
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Part of the Government's commitment to protect Canberrans is to ensure that law and order is properly maintained. As with other programs, the budget allocation for police running costs has been reduced, but community police services will not be affected. Start-up funding is being provided for the development of a crime prevention strategy for the ACT in consultation with a wide range of community and government bodies. The Government is also improving facilities through the construction of a new Magistrates Court and Belconnen Police Station, at a total cost of $24m. The Women's Information and Referral Centre will receive extra funding for a domestic violence advocate and for sponsorship of a support group for victims of violence. In recognition of the important role that sport has in our community, there is a 7 per cent increase in operational funding this year. A Women's Sport Unit will be established, to promote greater gender equity in sport.
Madam Speaker, people with mental health problems and their carers in our society deserve recognition of their needs and the establishment of appropriate support structures. A tribunal will be established which will make assessments and treatment orders for mentally dysfunctional people. The role of the Community Advocate will be extended, with $100,000 being provided in 1992-93 and $200,000 in a full year. This year $500,000 has been provided for three new services. First, an intensive care team will assist the seriously mentally ill to better use existing services or be provided with more intensive services; secondly, an outreach team will work with adolescents experiencing mental health problems; and, finally, a service will be established for patients with a mental illness who come into contact with the criminal justice system.
I turn now to health. The Government is committed to building a better health system to be part of the future of Canberra. The physical expression of this commitment is evidenced by the new facilities at Woden and Calvary hospitals. Inside the hospitals and health centres and elsewhere throughout Canberra, there is a program of change in our health system. The goals and strategies are directed at the twin aims of improving the quality of service and of increasing the efficiency of service delivery.
The efficiencies arising from hospital rationalisation are both evident and necessary. The challenge facing the health system over the medium term is to continue to deliver these efficiencies, consistent with our reducing revenue base. The allocation of resources to training, to day surgery and to extensive management, union and staff group consultation on work practices are all bearing fruit. Less interventionist and resource intensive health care practices are being introduced, for the greater well-being of patients. In 1991-92 the number of day-only admissions in public hospitals increased by 10.5 per cent and the average length of stay decreased by 6 per cent.
In this budget, Madam Speaker, we will establish an independent health complaints unit to protect ACT health consumers. We will fund the planning of, and appoint a surgeon to, a new cardio-thoracic unit. We will provide an additional $200,000 to the Health Promotion Fund, to be specifically aimed at encouraging access by young people and lower income earners to programs which help them give up smoking. We will commence work on the hospice. We will provide $1.4m to the Red Cross to assist in building a new blood bank and administration centre. We will introduce a second linear accelerator for use in the treatment of tumours. We will commence the mammography screening program; and we will provide additional pregnancy counselling.
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