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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 6 Hansard (19 June) . . Page.. 1861 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

Mr Berry made the comment that they have to perform. That is true. They do have to perform. But one of the things that have always been most difficult to accept in public health, and will always continue to be most difficult, is that the performance is not short term. In fact, performance in the public health area is based upon health goals and targets - the sorts of things that we can look at in five- and 10-year periods. Unfortunately, I think the problem with public health, not just in this country but generally, is that the timeframes of public health are not the same timeframes as political timeframes, as Assembly timeframes. You cannot run a three-year public health program, simply because you cannot end up with demonstrated outcomes in the timeframes of a government. That is, I think, the reason that, in the past, public health has always taken a back seat to the more obvious ends of Health.

I am very pleased that Healthpact and the Healthpact board have come up with a strategic plan that is significantly outside the timeframes of this Government. I hope - and I know - that they will continue to do so. If we do not have the sort of strategic plan we see in front of us today, our community simply will not have the impetus, the direction and the mission to become a healthier community. I am sure that, over the years, as Health Minister, I will have disagreements with Healthpact; and that is very appropriate. But I know that they have a very strong sense of where they are heading and where the community should be heading in terms of public health.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Debate resumed from 7 May 1997, on motion by Mr Humphries:

That the Assembly takes note of the paper.

MR WOOD (5.04): Mr Speaker, in this debate I want to challenge the confidence of those who reported on the crime and safety concerns of older persons in the ACT. In his tabling speech, Mr Humphries said:

The report indicates that in the ACT older people as a group are the least victimised across most crime categories.

That would be correct, I have no doubt. I do not want to challenge that statement. But I am not so confident about the recommendations and this view that old people are the least victimised. They are; but why are they the least victimised? I have little doubt that it is because they do not place themselves in a lot of situations where crime occurs; they do not drink to excess in places around the town; they do not get into brawls there; they do not drive cars dangerously; and they do not go into public places and get into brawls. Older people generally remove themselves from a lot of situations where crime occurs.

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