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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 11 Hansard (29 November) . . Page.. 3401 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

investigation. It may not be able to address the deaths." And they say, "That does not matter. This is not just about the deaths."

The deaths were what triggered the concern. They were the last straw if you like, but what people in the community are saying is, "Let the coroner look at the manner and cause of the death, but we need an independent inquiry under the Inquiries Act, because we do not trust the government's internal reviews. The Standing Committee on Health and Community Care in the Assembly does not want the work, and we still would prefer that it was not held in the Assembly committee system, even if they did want the work."

They say that because they are concerned about making complaints in a political atmosphere, because there are links to the government, and because there is a culture of fear associated with complaints. Even the conservative Carers Association is saying that in front of the television cameras now, and Mr Moore denies it, of course.

However, we are now hearing more than 20 community organisations saying that they are supporting concerns about the culture of fear of complaint. We are hearing over 20 community organisations say they want an independent inquiry under the Inquiries Act. They realise that it will not be able to look specifically at the deaths, but they do not mind, because there is so much work to be done.

Mr Moore said at the beginning of this debate that this is just about semantics, because Mr Wood has put a motion which is changing the language, which is making it a stronger direction to government. This is not just about semantics, this is about the nature of this parliament. This is about who Gary Humphries is, as the new Chief Minister. This is about who Gary Humphries is, because he has told us that he wants to bring his own style to the Assembly, that he wants to work with the community, and he wants to reflect the community's concerns.

What we had here was 10 members of this Assembly calling on the government to take a particular action. We are now requiring and directing the government to do that. Is he still going to say, "Well, even though the statement has come from 10 members of the Assembly, reflecting over 20 community organisations and many individuals-from that body of evidence and concern-we are going to ignore it because we know better, because we are concerned about the coronial process, and because our Chief Magistrate has said there may be some difficulties."

The Chief Magistrate also said it is up to the Assembly to make its own decision. I have just made it quite clear that, in New South Wales, this does not have to be a problem if there is goodwill and a professional approach. (Extension of time granted.) This is not the same as the implosion. This is about broad issues concerning people with disabilities in residential care. As I have made quite clear, this inquiry does not have to look at the specific deaths.

I said it would be possible for us to add some words, if that was helpful to the Chief Magistrate. We could add some words to make it quite clear what it is that the inquiry can look at and not look at. But that has not been picked up, obviously, at this point. Nevertheless, I am leaving it there on the table as a possibility.

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