Page 2254 - Week 07 - Thursday, 16 June 1994

PERSONS IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE FALLING BETWEEN THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF

THE VARIOUS AGENCIES AND BEING LEFT WITHOUT HELP OR ASSISTANCE.

MADAM SPEAKER I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE SOCIAL POLICY COMMITTEE

FOR ITS DELIBERATIONS AND ITS REPORT ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE. I

PARTICULARLY THANK THE CHAIR, MS ELLIS, FOR HER SIGNIFICANT

CONTRIBUTION. I BELIEVE THAT IT HAS RENDERED A GREAT SERVICE TO THE

PEOPLE OF THE TERRITORY.

I AM PARTICULARLY PLEASED THAT THE COMMITTEE WAS ABLE TO PRODUCE A

UNANIMOUS REPORT ON THIS ESSENTIAL ISSUE. THE COMMITTEE WAS MINDFUL

OF THE SIGNIFICANT DEBATE GOING ON AROUND AUSTRALIA ON MENTAL

HEALTH ISSUES AND PROPOSALS FOR NATIONAL LEGISLATION. FOR THESE

REASONS IT RECOMMENDED A SUNSET CLAUSE IN THE BILL. THE GOVERNMENT

ACCEPTED THIS PROPOSAL. I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT THE NEXT ASSEMBLY

WILL WISH TO EXAMINE THE OPERATION OF THE NEW LAWS WITH A VIEW TO

PROVIDING THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY WITH A CONSIDERED VIEW ON THE

EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE REFORMS. THIS WILL BE A GOOD THING AS MAJOR

REFORMS SUCH AS THIS DESERVE FULL ASSEMBLY SCRUTINY. IF A FUTURE

COMMITTEE APPROACHES ITS TASK IN THE SAME SPIRIT AS THIS COMMITTEE,

THE PUBLIC CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THIS LAW, WHICH REPRESENTS A

SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT ON THE EXISTING LAW, WILL BE FURTHER

IMPROVED AFTER ITS INITIAL PERIOD OF OPERATION.

I COMMEND THE BILLS TO THE ASSEMBLY.

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