Page 2683 - Week 10 - Thursday, 15 October 1992
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targeting a particular audience. We have advised ACT consumers who may have ordered from this company to get in contact with the Consumer Affairs Bureau as quickly as possible. To date, some 90 ACT consumers have done so.
Many consumers have paid many hundreds of dollars for goods from this company and there is real doubt as to the extent to which they will recover any of that money. Fortunately, those consumers who paid by credit card have some protection, as the credit providers, under a bank agreement, are able to cancel many of those card orders. Consumers who paid by cheque or money order may have some further difficulty. In order to enable the Consumer Affairs Bureau to make the best possible case to try to assist consumers, I would urge any ACT residents who have ordered goods from this company and not received them to register that purchase with the Consumer Affairs Bureau as soon as possible so that we can do our utmost to try to recover some money for these people.
Ms Follett: I ask that further questions be placed on the notice paper.
Health Services Consultant
MR BERRY: Madam Speaker, I would like to respond to a question which was raised by Mrs Carnell in relation to an officer in the Department of Health. I undertook to take advice in relation to this matter. May I say at the outset that it is not always pleasant for officers to have their names raised in the Assembly; but, as it has been done, the information has been put together. I am advised that the appropriate response is as follows: Ms Austin has been engaged by ACT Health on a professional services contract since May 1991. That was in the period of the Alliance Government. Her initial role was to assist with the management of the hospitals redevelopment project and to assist with the implementation of some of the recommendations of the Enfield report. Since May this year she has been undertaking tasks associated with the development of new corporate management strategies. In this role she has also continued to advise the secretary on the management of the hospitals redevelopment project and on the management of important change projects in ACT Health.
The general manager (corporate) is one of five jobs reporting directly to the secretary and is not a sole deputy position. I am advised that it is not particularly unusual to employ expert professionals on contracts. People can be engaged under a contract rather than under the Public Service Act. This occurs when functions are performed for particular purposes or for limited time periods, or when particular skills and expertise are required for a limited time. The Head of Administration's endorsement must be obtained to the establishment and functions of senior positions, as well as for the contract period and for the recruitment process.
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