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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 11 Hansard (4 November) . . Page.. 3587 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

I say to the Government in relation to this matter that it ought to keep a weather eye on the issue to make sure that it beds down safely, to ensure that these drugs of dependence are kept secure and that there is no chance of leakage into the community. I am not suggesting for a moment that health professionals are prone to that, although I do say that health professionals are not immune from the use of drugs. Mr Speaker, I reiterate that the Labor Party will be supporting this legislation.

MRS CARNELL (Chief Minister and Minister for Health and Community Care) (5.59), in reply: Mr Speaker, I assume that this means that the Assembly as a whole will support the Bill. I am very pleased with that support.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill agreed to in principle.

Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.

Bill agreed to.

Debate resumed from 25 September 1997, on motion by Mrs Carnell:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

MR BERRY (Leader of the Opposition) (6.00): Mr Speaker, I was most disturbed to see that the sobering-up shelter had been closed up, and I was most disturbed - - -

Mrs Carnell: Do you think we should not have closed it up?

Ms McRae: Let him finish. You might be pleased. You might change his mind if you keep on.

MR SPEAKER: Continue, Mr Berry.

MR BERRY: I was most disturbed at the circumstances which gave rise to that, and I see that the Government has come forward with something which may prove to be a help in relation to incidents in the past which caused the closure. There is no way of preventing people from doing harm to themselves at all times, I suppose; but, in the circumstances, it seems that it was indicated that, had there been proper search procedures in place, this might not have occurred. I trust that the proper search procedures that are put in place will help to prevent any likelihood of the occurrence of these sorts of incidents, however remote the chance, in the future.

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