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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 3 Hansard (9 April) . . Page.. 777 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

Taking into account that that is the only interface that the parents have with the system, how are you or the service appropriately targeting children who will not get any other dental service and ensuring that they are being accessed?

You interjected later:

With no targeting. It is a bulk letter.

You said that we must target people who cannot afford it. My question to Mrs Carnell is: If in 1992 you did not think a letter to parents was sufficient consultation, how can you now stand up here and say that a consultation process conducted mainly in school holidays with no direct correspondence to parents advising them of these proposed changes, and, a couple of public meetings attended by very few people constitute a good process?

MRS CARNELL: I thank Ms Tucker for the question, because she has given me an opportunity yet again to run through the consultation approach. Mr Speaker, 1,800 copies of the consultation document were distributed. The major organisations that received a copy with an offer for a personal briefing - - -

Mr Berry: How many parents in the ACT have kids in school? There are thousands. Our school system is too big!

MRS CARNELL: Mr Berry is not interested. I understand that, but I think it is very important - - -

MR SPEAKER: You are addressing the answer to Ms Tucker, so ignore Mr Berry.

MRS CARNELL: No; I am addressing it to you, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Through me, of course.

MRS CARNELL: Major organisations that received a copy of this document with an offer of a personal briefing were: Weston Creek Community Service, Woden Community Service, Northside Community Service, Tuggeranong Community Service - - -

Ms McRae: Are there any children there? Are there any parents there?

MRS CARNELL: Yes. Others to receive it were Southside Community Centre, Belconnen Community Centre Inc., Health Advisory Committee, Multicultural Consultative Council, Canberra Pre-School Society, Association of Community Long Day Care Centres, Child Care Solutions, the Education Department - Vickie Busteed, Jill Farrelly and all school principals, with a letter to all of them asking them to circulate it to staff and the school boards - the Catholic Education Office, the chair of the ATSIC Community Council, the chair of the Women's Consultative Council, the CPSU, the Australian Dental Association, the ACT Dental Technicians Association, the ACT Dental Therapists Association, Anne Cabbage of ACT Dental Assistants Training,

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