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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 8 Hansard (28 August) . . Page.. 2634 ..

MRS CARNELL (Chief Minister and Minister for Health and Community Care): I seek leave of the Assembly to make a ministerial statement on ministerial meetings held in Cairns from 31 July to 1 August 1997.

Leave granted.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I am pleased to report on the outcomes - or some of the outcomes - of the ministerial meetings in Cairns on 31 July and 1 August 1997. The meetings that took place in Cairns included the Australian Health Ministers Conference, the Health and Community Services Ministerial Council, the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy and the Disability Services Ministers meeting. The councils provide important opportunities for State, Territory and Commonwealth Ministers to meet and discuss the issues that are affecting the health and wellbeing of Australians and to adopt measures to improve the overall framework by which health and community care services are provided. The issues covered in these meetings are complex and challenging. The ACT is an active participant in proceedings and welcomes the opportunity to shape and drive reforms at the national level.

Mr Speaker, at the Health and Community Services Ministerial Council a range of measures aimed principally at addressing the needs of the aged was considered. In this context, the following key matters were considered. The ACT agreed to participate in a review of a discussion paper titled, "Bridging the Gap - Towards More Integrated Aged Care", which will lead to opportunities to negotiate specific reforms with the Commonwealth.

Aged care is a large and diverse system managed by both the Commonwealth and the States and Territories, with complex linkages to other parts of the broader health and community care services system. Improving the continuity of care is a priority for the ACT. This concept is becoming increasingly important for the ACT's aged residents as they move between the different programs, including the disability, health, housing and aged care programs. The challenge for the ACT is to develop approaches that provide a seamless network of services focused on meeting the individual needs of the aged population. As part of the review of this discussion paper, Health and Community Services Ministerial Council members have supported that the discussion paper be released for public comment in October this year.

In relation to aged care, the ACT also joined with other States and Territories to express concerns regarding the Commonwealth's Aged Care Bill 1997, which is due to commence on 1 October 1997. This Act will impose significant changes on the aged care system, and there is concern that these changes will not have reference to the impact on related parts of the system, including community care, hospitals, housing and guardianship. Council members have resolved that States and Territories will be involved in a proposed Commonwealth review of the Act. It was agreed that this review should, in addition to Commonwealth requirements, monitor and review the impact of this Act on all States' and Territories' services.

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