Page 2768 - Week 09 - Thursday, 26 August 1993
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Madam Speaker, this is further evidence of Labor's commitments to improved health systems in the ACT. It accompanies, of course, the vast improvements that already have been made. I think the people of the ACT will be satisfied that there is an independent person provided by government to ensure that their complaints are adequately surveyed and settled where possible.
I commend the exposure draft of the Health Complaints Bill, together with the amendments to the Ombudsman Act 1989, to the Assembly and present the draft explanatory memoranda for the Bills. Madam Speaker, this is part of an important process of consultation and one which we value. I look forward to receiving the comments - - -
Mr De Domenico: Gee!
Mr Humphries: Oh, yes!
MR BERRY: Don't they get agitated about the consultative nature of this Government? Every time you mention the consultative nature of this Government they get a little bit of a twitch up, but it is usually - - -
Mr De Domenico: Freedom of information.
Mr Humphries: Yes, the hospice, North Watson.
MR BERRY: You want to teach Bronnie about this; teach Bronnie about these ugly little habits of yours. It is something she might be able to take away from here. Madam Speaker, I look forward to receiving the comments of the public and my fellow Assembly members, and I invite and encourage members, even members of the Liberal Party in the Assembly, to contact my office should they be interested in receiving a thorough briefing on the Bills.
Madam Speaker, I turn to the Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill, which also relates to this matter. The establishment of the draft legislation concerning health complaints necessitates some consequential amendments to the Ombudsman Act. There will be a Bill providing for those amendments. It irks you people opposite to see these great things coming out of a Labor government, does it not? The amendments are designed to ensure that the Ombudsman does not have jurisdiction over the Commissioner for Health Complaints or staff of the Health Complaints Unit. Further, the Ombudsman will no longer have jurisdiction to investigate the actions of agencies in respect of health service matters. Madam Speaker, I commend that to the Assembly as well. This is part of the comprehensive package of improvements to health services in the ACT that Labor has been involved in and will continue to improve. The report this morning from the PAC, I think it was, noted the very significant improvements which have been made in health management in the ACT. It will continue. This is just a small part of it.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .