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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 9 Hansard (3 September) . . Page.. 2833 ..

MR SPEAKER: Minister for Health, I will allow the question, though I would raise the question of standing order 117(h).

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, obviously, I was not present at the interview, so I do not know who said what to whom or when. That is what I was asked. As I am advised on this and as I explained to the Assembly yesterday, of the five clients who moved out, none had an advocate present during the interview process. All five volunteered to move out. Not all clients want to have an advocate present, but I am advised by the Mental Health Service that they will ensure that one is available for anybody who wants one. I will make sure, Mr Speaker, as I am sure is the case already, that all people who are part of this transfer are aware that advocates are available. I would be very surprised if clients were not aware now that an advocate service is available - obviously, from the Mental Health Service, not staff at the facility. I am very happy to make sure that everybody is aware that the service is available, if they want it, from the Mental Health Service at no charge.

MS TUCKER: Thank you. I have a supplementary question. I am not at all impressed that you are happy to make sure that happens. It is your responsibility to make sure that this service is made available.

MR SPEAKER: We are waiting on your supplementary question, Ms Tucker, not your opinions.

MS TUCKER: My supplementary question is this: Were these people offered an advocate or not?

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, as I said at the beginning of the answer, I was not there to find out, but I will find out whether they were offered an advocate. I am advised that an advocate was involved in the process leading up to the proposals to move out, with all of the people involved.

Mr Berry: Was it an independent, non-staff advocate?

MR SPEAKER: Mr Berry, you have been warned.

MRS CARNELL: In other words, the process to set up the process had an advocate present to represent the needs of the client, Mr Speaker. I am very happy to find out whether those people involved were offered an advocate. That is fine. Also, I am very happy to find out whether they are happy, because I suspect that that is the real bottom line here.

MS REILLY: My question is to the Minister for Housing. Minister, why have you not publicly announced the establishment of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Housing, as you have done with the other advisory committees you have established? Will this secrecy extend to the minutes of the committee or will you agree to circulate the minutes of the meetings to the many interested groups and people in the ACT?

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