Page 2253 - Week 07 - Thursday, 16 June 1994

ADDITIONALLY THIS BILL, AND MORE PARTICULARLY THE CONSEQUENTIAL

AMENDMENTS BILL THROUGH AMENDMENTS TO THE CHILDREN'S SERVICES

ACT 1986, WILL MAKE SPECIAL PROVISION FOR CHILDREN WITH A MENTAL

DYSFUNCTION. THE CONSEQUENTIAL PROVISIONS BILL ALSO MAKES

NECESSARY AMENDMENTS TO THE COMMUNITY ADVOCATE ACT 1991 TO

REFLECT THE COMMUNITY ADVOCATE'S NEW FUNCTIONS AND PROVIDES FOR

CONTINUATION OF ARRANGEMENTS, ORDERS AND APPOINTMENTS UNDER THE

REPEALED MENTAL HEALTH ACT 1983. IT ALSO BRINGS THOSE PERSONS

PRESENTLY IN CUSTODY AS FORENSIC DETAINEES WITHIN THE NEW

LEGISLATIVE ARRANGEMENTS.

THE COMMITTEE MADE 2 RECOMMENDATIONS IN RESPECT OF NONLEGISLATIVE

MATTERS. THE FIRST WAS THAT THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THE

NEED FOR SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH A MENTAL DYSFUNCTION AS A MATTER

OF URGENCY AND NOTED THE NEED FOR MORE ACUTE BEDS FOR PEOPLE WITH

A MENTAL ILLNESS AND SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

REQUIRING PSYCHIATRIC INTERVENTION.

MADAM SPEAKER, THIS GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING

NECESSARY SERVICES AND THE PROVISION OF AND NEED FOR ADDITIONAL

SERVICES WILL BE MONITORED.

THE SECOND NON-LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATION WAS THAT FOR THE

DURATION OF THE LEGISLATION (GIVEN THE SUNSET CLAUSE) A FORMAL

MONITORING MECHANISM BE ESTABLISHED WHEREBY GOVERNMENT REPORTS

TO THE COMMITTEE EVERY SIX MONTHS ON THE NEED FOR AND PROVISIONS

OF SERVICES, INCLUDING LEGAL SERVICES, FOR PEOPLE WITH A MENTAL

DYSFUNCTION. THE GOVERNMENT IS HAPPY TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY

INFORMATION TO THE COMMITTEE.

THE BILLS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY TODAY REPRESENT A VERY

IMPORTANT MILESTONE IN THE TERRITORY'S TREATMENT AND CARE OF ITS

MENTALLY DYSFUNCTIONAL CITIZENS. IT PROVIDES NEW PROCEDURES

AND NEW SAFEGUARDS. IT PROVIDES FOR FORMAL DIVERSION OF

MENTALLY DYSFUNCTIONAL PERSONS FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE

SYSTEM. IT PROVIDES FOR AN ENHANCED ROLE FOR THE COMMUNITY

ADVOCATE AND MORE FLEXIBLE USE OF TREATMENT AND CARE FACILITIES.

ONE OF ITS MAIN AIMS IS TO AVOID THE UNFORTUNATE PAST PRACTICES OF

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