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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 6 Hansard (18 June) . . Page.. 1788 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General) (5.09), in reply: Just briefly, Mr Speaker: I am sure Mrs Carnell can speak for herself about mental health tomorrow. Mr Berry has always been very quick to capitalise on what he sees as changes in personnel or changes in areas of sensitivity such as this. Mr Berry's own record in mental health, while Minister for Health in the ACT, was not particularly distinguished. I think it is important to recognise the many achievements that the Liberal Party can look to in the area of mental health in the ACT. The Liberal Party provided the first 24-hour crisis service operating in the ACT. That was our achievement. It was denigrated at the time by the Opposition; but, of course, it was a very important addition to the services provided to people in the ACT in need of crisis care who were suffering from a mental illness or disease.

We also have increased significantly spending on mental health in the ACT. The fact remains that it is only those who choose to mislead on this subject who continue to run around the Territory saying that spending on mental health in the ACT is lower than the national average. Of course, that is no longer true. It was true a few years ago. It was true when Mr Berry was Minister for Health.

Mr Berry: No, it was not.

MR HUMPHRIES: It most certainly was, especially when you were first Minister for Health. The ACT was underspending in mental health; today it is not. Mrs Carnell certainly contributed to that process, and I think we can be very proud of her achievements in this area.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

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