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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1995 Week 10 Hansard (7 December) . . Page.. 2783 ..

MR MOORE: Mr Speaker, I wish to make a statement regarding the Planning and Environment Committee's inquiry into a strategic plan.

MR SPEAKER: Pursuant to standing order 246A, I believe.

MR MOORE: Mr Speaker, the committee reported to the Assembly on its work on a strategic plan for the ACT. One of the issues that the committee dealt with was the calling of tenders for a scoping study for that strategic plan. In fact, those tenders arrived on Friday a couple of weeks ago, Mr Speaker, the very same day that the Chief Minister and the former Deputy Prime Minister announced that they would work on an overall strategic plan for the Australian Capital Territory. The scoping study that the committee had called tenders on was to do with land use planning rather than a full strategic plan.

The committee, in considering its position, delegated me to have a number of discussions with Mr John Walker and Mr Michael Ratcliffe, who are coordinating this strategic plan. We determined that the most effective way that we could work together would be if those tenders were passed to that strategic planning committee so that they would be able to get on with their work as quickly as possible. In fact, they are seeking to have a scoping study for that done by Christmas Eve - in other words, before the break.

Mr Speaker, with the permission of the committee - indeed, there was a resolution to that effect - that has been done. Whilst the committee will retain its interest in strategic planning and will keep the inquiry on board, we will use that to monitor, and to be involved in, the development of the overall strategic planning, including land use strategic planning. I hope that other members of the Assembly will also be included in that process and at appropriate decision-making junctures will have significant input to the strategic plan. The committee felt that it was appropriate for us to inform the Assembly that there were changes in the way that we were approaching that strategic planning issue. That is why I have made this statement today.

MS TUCKER: I wish to inform the Assembly, pursuant to standing order 246A, that on 1 December 1995 the Standing Committee on Social Policy resolved to inquire into and report on the adequacy of mental health services with particular reference to:

(1) coordination of service provision and issues surrounding continuity of care;

(2) the interface between mental health services and other services (especially police and housing); and

(3) any other related matter.

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