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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 14 Hansard (11 December) . . Page.. 4943 ..

MR SPEAKER: Is this a question or a statement, Ms Reilly?

MS REILLY: It is important. Mr Speaker, it is important to have the whole background - I am sure you would agree with that - so that the question can be answered properly.

Ms McRae: Perhaps you had better read it again, Ms Reilly, so that he can listen.

MS REILLY: Do you want me to read it again, Mr Speaker?

MR SPEAKER: No. I was just thinking it is about as detailed as the Sistine Chapel so far. Go on.

MS REILLY: The people living in the COOOL houses would like some answers to their questions. If you had been living somewhere for five months with no resolution you would be concerned too.

MR SPEAKER: Would you mind getting on with this question, please.

MS REILLY: Minister, how is it that you have taken such a close, personal and public interest in the needs of these people with a disability yet you are unaware of their major concerns? Now that you are aware of this issue, will you personally meet with the representatives of the COOOL Housing Members Committee as soon as possible to resolve the issue?

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I am unaware of any request to meet. I am informed that in relation to the Macquarie house the residents of that place should now all have copies of their support plans and the house roster, which should include information on the banking of hours, which I understand was the question. To ensure that that is all completely clarified, a letter is being sent in the next couple of days to all residents and the service provider, which is Community Options, particularly in relation to the banking of hours.

There was also a meeting with intended residents of the Fisher house, I think, on 8 December - that was this week - where there were lengthy talks about things like support plans, moving in, a trial period, and all of those sorts of things. As soon as is practical for those particular residents, after the residents have reached an agreement with the support service provider about their support plans, they will receive a copy of their support plans showing individual and shared hours and the house roster, which is basically what a support plan is. It does have all of those things in it, Ms Reilly, the ones that you were talking about. Discussions have continued on the banking of hours. Obviously they are limited to the budget that we have, but I understand that discussions have continued quite well on those sorts of things.

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