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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1995 Week 8 Hansard (25 October) . . Page.. 2039 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

Mr Speaker, I believe, as I am sure every other member of this Assembly does, that this Bill is absolutely central to the future of healthy lifestyles in this city. It is fascinating to have a look at what has happened in two other jurisdictions that have had similar styles of statutory authorities in the past, and they are Victoria and Western Australia. Those statutory authorities have become two of the most efficient and most effective statutory authorities in those States. What they have achieved, both in funding and in improving the health of the community, is quite stunning. I am confident that our Health Promotion Fund will go on to achieve exactly that.

The new agency will be known as "HealthPACT", which is a contraction of Health Promotion ACT. The legislation forms the pact between the Government and the community in the pursuit of a healthier community, so I believe that HealthPACT is an appropriate name. The Bill also includes the requirement for the board to draft a three-year strategic plan for submission to the Government. The agreed plan will be laid before the Assembly so that members will be aware of the goals and directions being pursued. The basis of having the Health Promotion Fund set up as a statutory authority is so that we can plan for the future; so that we, as a community, can ensure that there is a long-term strategy in place to ensure that our community is healthier in the future than it was in the past. I am pleased that this Assembly supports this legislation.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill agreed to in principle.

Clauses 1 to 4, by leave, taken together, and agreed to.

Clause 5

MS TUCKER (4.06): I move amendment No. 1 circulated in my name, which reads:

Page 2, line 30, proposed paragraph 5(ca), insert after paragraph 5(c) the following paragraphs:

"(ca) the promotion of the community capacity to support its own good health, through self-supporting activities;

(cb) the promotion of good health through intersectoral collaboration;".

Mr Speaker, the Greens support this legislation as health promotion and sickness prevention are a key element of our health policy. Health is far more than the absence of disease. It is about a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, and it is essential that government actions reflect the need to promote good health, not just the curative aspects of health.

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