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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 9 Hansard (4 September) . . Page.. 2994 ..

Debate resumed from 26 June 1997, on motion by Mrs Carnell:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

MR BERRY (Leader of the Opposition) (8.35): This legislation, Mr Speaker, picks up the community services section which was described, as I recall it, in the last budget. I note that there have been some resources made available to the Health Complaints Commissioner to cope with this extra obligation and that there are machinery changes throughout the legislation to ensure that the community services side of the ACT can be properly investigated by him.

Mr Speaker, I say at the outset that, in principle, we will be supporting this Bill; but I do want to raise some questions about the Government's commitment to it. We have heard many fine words on this matter, but when I look at the resources that are being provided for the organisation to conduct its business I think it will fall on hard times. Already I hear spasmodic complaints that the Health Complaints Commissioner is unable to deal with matters very quickly. I am a little concerned about that. The Health Complaints Unit was another child of the Labor Party. It was put in place by me and I want to make sure that it can perform its function for the Territory - even for those people who are members of licensed clubs.

What I am concerned about is that the Government has used some flowery words about its move to put the community and health services complaints investigation arrangements with the Health Complaints Commissioner function. I know from my experience in dealing with community services in the past that it is a large area of concern out there in the community, and there is quite often a myriad of complaints at one level or another which are looking for a place in which to be resolved. It is a good thing that they will have a place in which to be resolved; it is a bad thing if they are given the false impression that their complaints will be able to be resolved quickly and in an appropriate way. By the look of the funding levels, they are going to run into trouble very early.

I think this Government is good on words but not much good on delivering anything, except spending the people's money, and I would be surprised if Mrs Carnell was able to get this one right. She has had a bit of a rough trot for the last 21/2 years on getting anything right. I hope that the dollars that have been provided for this organisation will stretch as far as they should, but I rather suspect that there will be a substantial number of complaints and concerns which will have to be resolved by what will be the Community and Health Services Complaints Commissioner. I wish him and the organisation luck. I can say to you that because it was something that Labor was committed to - indeed, we introduced the concept here in the ACT - we will guarantee it appropriate and proper funding in the future. We will be watching closely the performance of the organisation with the funding that has been provided to it at this point.

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