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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 2 Hansard (27 February) . . Page.. 573 ..

Mrs Carnell: We do have a Director of Mental Health Services. It is Richard Clarke.

MR BERRY: There is no appointment to the professorial chair yet, and no Director of Mental Health Services. Mrs Carnell interjects that we do have a Director of Mental Health Services. Mrs Carnell is wrong. She should read the legislation. The legislation requires that it be a psychiatrist. The person whom she described is not the Director of Mental Health Services. So, it is quite wrong for her to say that the - - -

Mrs Carnell: We have them filling the position on a monthly rotation. Do you think the position is not filled?

MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, Mrs Carnell says that we have been filling it on a rotational basis. Where are the appointment documents of the Acting Directors of Mental Health Services? The provision within the legislation is for either a director or an acting director. It is the requirement of the legislation. It is another symbol of your arrogance, Mrs Carnell, that you do not appoint people, as required by the legislation.

Mrs Carnell: They have been appointed. You are just wrong.

MR BERRY: Produce the appointment documents. Produce the instruments of appointment for the Acting Director of Mental Health Services. Produce them in this place. Mr Speaker, there is very clearly a gap in the top management of the Mental Health Service in the ACT. How can you set in place all of the changes which Mrs Carnell talks about today, without the person who is going to steer the ship in future in place?

Mrs Carnell: Because the director does not run Mental Health Services; the executive director does.

MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, the professor of psychiatry, or associate professor - whichever it will be in the end - you would think would have an interest in what was going to go on here. It troubles me that Mrs Carnell is making what she calls advances in the area of mental health. Mrs Carnell tries to blame the Sydney University for the failure to fill the position; but the fact of the matter is that, if she were able to find somebody to fill the position of Director of Mental Health Services, she could appoint them now, or she could appoint an acting director.

Another thing that Mrs Carnell might address in her response to this debate is the future of Hennessy House and Watson Hostel. I would like Mrs Carnell to deny strong rumours that both Hennessy House and Watson Hostel are going to close.

Mrs Carnell: I have, lots of times.

MR BERRY: It would be nice for you to deny it formally here today. It would be good to have it on the record again.

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