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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 9 Hansard (4 September) . . Page.. 2999 ..

Page 7, line 22, after clause 19 insert the following clause:

"Cessation of membership

20. A person who, immediately before the commencement of section 16D, was a member of the Health Rights Advisory Council ceases to be a member on that commencement.".

Mr Speaker, in the interests of my voice today, I will try to keep this to an absolute minimum. I think everybody has a copy of the explanatory statement that goes with these amendments, so I will leave that one with members and I will be very brief. The amendments I am moving are an extension of the changes we have given in-principle agreement to with the Community and Health Services Complaints (Amendment) Bill. With the Bill we have agreed to allow the Health Complaints Commissioner to investigate and, where necessary, take action on complaints relating to services for the aged and people with disabilities as well as health services.

The original Health Complaints Act 1993 also established a Health Rights Council which is responsible for educating and informing users, providers and the public on the services of the commissioner's office, and advising the commissioner and me on redress of grievances relating to health services and the operation of the Act. The Act currently requires representation from both providers and consumers of health services. In line with the objectives of the Bill, these amendments propose that the name, functions and membership of the council be expanded to include representation of people with disabilities and the aged and their carers.

The name of the council will be changed to the Community and Health Rights Advisory Council. The function of the council will be expanded to include advice on grievances relating to services for the aged and the disabled. Membership of the council will be expanded to include people who represent the interests of users and providers of services for the aged and people with disabilities, as well as health services. In addition, the amendments allow for up to two members who have experience or expertise which may contribute to the functions of the council. Other amendments are technical in nature and are required to avoid inconsistencies in the Act.

Mr Speaker, the amendments will ensure that all people, both users and providers of services for the aged, people with disabilities and health services, will be represented on the council and have a voice in the operation of the Community and Health Services Complaints Act.

MR BERRY (Leader of the Opposition) (8.48): Mr Speaker, the Labor Party will be supporting the amendments for the purposes outlined by the Chief Minister, but I wish to raise an issue which perturbed me somewhat when Mrs Carnell was speaking in the in-principle stage. She attempted again, consistent with the old approach, to recraft what I had said in my speech in relation to the matter. She made the point that I had in some way criticised the recurrent funding of the Health Complaints Commissioner. No, Mrs Carnell. Just to correct the record for you, and so that the record shows it, what I was pointing to was the budget funding. You said:

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