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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 6 Hansard (2 September) . . Page.. 1769 ..

MR SMYTH: Yes, my office has been working cooperatively with Mr Moore's officers to make sure that the approach is always coordinated. I believe that in this instance ACT Housing responded the same day, as soon as the complaint was received.

Mr Moore: Three departments coordinated a response.

MR SMYTH: There you go. Three departments coordinated their response. I believe Mr Humphries's officers were involved as well. ACT Housing cleaners immediately carried out additional inspections but did not find any loose sharps. The cleaners have been reminded of their need to be diligent in the cleaning of these complexes and the removal of sharps immediately. I believe that the processes we have in place reflect the level of concern from this Government. We are all concerned about this issue. The Carnell Government has always taken drug issues very seriously and led nationally on these issues, and we will continue to take them very seriously.

Mr Stefaniak: And did a lot to fix up the ABC flats too.

MR SMYTH: And did up the ABC flats.

Police - Equipment Upgrades

MR RUGENDYKE: My question is to the police Minister, Mr Humphries. Minister, in recent Estimates Committee hearings, Assistant Commissioner Stoll made reference to a five-year rolling program of equipment upgrades in the Australian Federal Police. Apart from upgrades made with grants from the Federal road safety money for the black spots program and the allocation from this year's Territory budget, could you provide details of expenditure on upgrading resources during that period?

MR HUMPHRIES: Yes, I can, Mr Speaker, but on notice. I will take that question on notice.

ACTION - Canberra Hospital Service

MR HARGREAVES: My question to the Minister for Urban Services relates to a question that I asked of the Minister for Health yesterday. I ask this Minister because ACTION have the contract for the delivery of this service. Can the Minister advise whether the new public transport system for patients travelling to Canberra Hospital for rehabilitation will provide the same quality of service as the previous system, in that there will be attendants on the buses to assist patients who may suffer seizures, fits, et cetera and that the new midi-buses which are to be used on these new routes will be equipped with sufficient wheelchair restraints and seatbelts?

MR MOORE: Mr Speaker, I think it would be better if I answered this question and at the same time answered the question that I took on notice yesterday, because the two are related. ACTION approached the Canberra Hospital in January 1998 to renegotiate its contract for special needs transport for patients attending rehabilitation services, remedial

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