Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 2 Hansard (27 February) . . Page.. 576 ..

MRS CARNELL: That is actually the reality. The person involved has made it quite clear, in newspaper reports and everywhere else, that his problem is not with me personally, but is with our approach - the approach we have all taken - to mental health in the ACT. I stand by that, and I thought that everybody around here did. Mr Berry, I think it is very unfortunate that you believe that people with personality disorders should not be handled in our mental health system.

Mr Berry: I have never said that.

MRS CARNELL: You have said that, because you have indicated time and time again that the disagreement we had was not appropriate, that we should not have had the disagreement. You have to stand up and take responsibility for the things you say, and say consistently.

Mr Berry: Do not try to re-create history.

MRS CARNELL: It has nothing to do with history. I can show you all of the letters, Mr Berry. I do not think that somebody who does not believe that people with personality disorders that are not treatable or diagnosable by a psychiatrist should be - - -

Mr Berry: Who said that?

MRS CARNELL: The person you are talking about - Dr Rosenman.

Mr Berry: Did I say that?

MRS CARNELL: You indicated that - - -

Mr Berry: Did I say that?

MRS CARNELL: I am sorry, Mr Berry; Dr Rosenman is very clear. He has made it clear in every circumstance.

Mr Berry: Did I say that? No, I did not say that.

MRS CARNELL: Well, on that basis, you support the decision that I took. You support it absolutely. You support the decision I took not to accept a situation where we were going to have that sort of - - -

Mr Berry: You said that you did not take any decision.

MRS CARNELL: You see, he cannot help it, Mr Speaker. That is really the bottom line here. He does not know what he is talking about and he cannot accept that, at least in areas such as mental health, we should attempt to be working together in this place. I have made it clear that I will continue to report back to the Assembly on the progress we are making in mental health. We have made available all of the documents - our approach to and our strategic plan for mental health. I will report regularly to this place, even if Mr Berry wants to use the opportunity for report-backs on our Moving Ahead approach as a political football, Mr Speaker.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .