Page 2621 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 24 August 1993
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She claimed credit for a debate put on by the Council on the Ageing, which was nothing to do with this Government. She claimed credit for a seminar put on by Successful Ageing ACT, which was nothing to do with this Government. And so it goes on. We had a statement in which this Chief Minister claimed all of these initiatives, and all this credit for the Government, not one of which was an initiative of this Government. It is typical of this Government. They do not have a single idea, not only in connection with the ageing but across the whole spectrum of government activity.
The Chief Minister having made that statement and made false claims for credit for all of the things that are in there, none of which were her initiatives or the initiatives of this Government, I now ask her, since she is so keen on helping the ageing: Where is the assistance asked for by the Council on the Ageing to facilitate their giving advice to you? You said that you were going to continue to ask for their advice. They said, "We cannot provide the advice without further resources". They asked for one additional person to be funded so that they could provide you with the advice that you said you wanted, and you refused to fund it. How can the Council on the Ageing give you advice if they do not have the resources to do so? This was another specious bit of government finagling.
Where, Madam Speaker, is the convalescent unit that has been constantly referred to in reports going back to 1989, 1992 and 1993 - it goes on ad infinitum - recommending that there be a convalescent facility built in this city? Where is it? Where is the commitment from this Government to do it? They acknowledge all of these reports and say, "These reports are fantastic and we are going to pick up all these recommendations", but where is the delivery of the goods? The answer is that there is none. Despite recommendations in report after report on the fact that there is a crying need for assistance for dementia patients in the ACT, where is the initiative from this Government to provide one bed for one dementia patient? There is none; absolutely none. Where is their commitment to providing facilities for respite care, not only for dementia and other sufferers but also for their carers? There is not one commitment; not one dollar; not one dime. Yet every time a report comes down the Government says, "This is a lovely report; we love the recommendations and we are going to fix all this". But there is not one single cent's worth of commitment.
Where is the retirement home project put forward by the Returned and Services League of Australia? It had a piece of ground alongside Lake Ginninderra three years ago. This Government reversed that and three years later the RSL is still trying to get a piece of ground on which to build its retirement home. These are not only ageing people, not only senior citizens; these are veterans as well. Where is the spokesperson on the Government side of the house for the veterans? There is none. They have no portfolio for veterans. In other words, they do not give a hoot, and it is typical.
Where, Madam Speaker, is this age discrimination legislation? Mr Connolly produced his discussion paper in March, with public discussion ending at 31 May. Three months later we are still waiting for him to produce his legislation. He had a draft Bill at the time and it was put out there for public consultation. It did not have to be drafted; it was already drafted. What public comment did he get? If he got none, why is not the Bill on the table? If he did get some comment, when is he going to inform the Assembly on what public comment he received?
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