Page 2651 - Week 10 - Thursday, 15 October 1992
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MADAM SPEAKER: Members, we can debate this issue further, but I remind you that this is a motion to authorise the publication of the report. We will then move on to a motion that the report be noted, when the substance of the report will be debated. I wanted to put in that reminder before I called the next speaker. If there are no speakers, I will put the question on authorising the publication of the report.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
MR MOORE (10.47): I move:
That the report be noted.
I now have the opportunity to speak, and I shall speak briefly, to what I consider is a very positive report. Madam Speaker, the first and most important thing I need to do as far as this report is concerned is to thank the other members of the committee, Mrs Carnell and Mrs Grassby, who worked very hard with me on this report. I would like to distinguish between those thanks, which are quite appropriate, and the issue of the dissenting report, because at no stage was the issue that I have just raised part and parcel of the debate or the committee's consideration. I do appreciate the time and effort put in by members of the committee. I would also like to use this opportunity to thank those people who prepared submissions for the committee, and to thank the secretariat, particularly Mr Ron Owens, the secretary of the committee, who worked tirelessly to ensure that we understood the issues and that the report was prepared in the way that the committee had decided that it wanted.
Madam Speaker, one of the most important things to happen, and one of the things that made me feel particularly positive about this report, was the fact that representatives from NODSSA and from ACTIV appeared before the committee and presented their opinions. Not only did they appear before the committee; they also appeared on radio, on television and generally in the media. Imagine four or five years ago somebody standing up and saying, "I am an intravenous drug user and this is my opinion". The first steps, as far as empowerment are concerned, have been taken. This is something that should enhance the work of this Assembly; that in this Territory, in this country, people who are drug users are prepared to stand up and say, "This is what I think; will you listen?". We have the opportunity, Madam Speaker, to listen. That is why in this report, and personally, I ask Mr Berry in particular to listen to what the users had to say, and to listen to the community in general. All people who came before us said to us that what we need as far as the distribution of methadone goes is to see as wide a possible range of choices as can be facilitated.
Therefore, Madam Speaker, this report, in recommending that we adopt not only Mrs Carnell's Bill but also the Bill tabled by the Minister for Health, responds specifically to the needs of those who are most in need. It responds specifically to the World Health Organisation's approach to the new health. It responds specifically to the Ottawa charter. It is a chance for a very positive step forward. More than ever, I urge the Minister and I urge members of this Assembly to read it carefully, to listen to what people are saying, and to lead the world in responding to the needs of people who have been the scapegoats of our community for too long.
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