Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 1 Hansard (13 February) . . Page.. 12 ..

MR WOOD (continuing):

I move:

Mr Speaker, this is a fairly brief report making recommendations on two aspects of health delivery, while making comment and having some discussion about a number of other matters. The first of our recommendations is that the government should look at the gaps in detoxification services, especially services for young people. The youth magistrate has made a strong statement about the difficulty in this area. There are not detox facilities specific to these people, and they are much needed. It is the case, sadly, that some of the youth detox activity is carried out at Quamby, and that is perhaps not the best place for that to occur. We want the government to have a careful look, to assess the needs, to listen to people such as Magistrate Madden and to take some action in that respect.

Once again, as we have over a period, we looked at the problem of indigenous drug use, noting various claims of young indigenous people, up to 500 in number. It is a bit hard to determine the exact number. The highest number I have heard quoted is 500. It may be something less than that, but it is altogether too many, whatever the number of young people having trouble with drugs.

In hearings elsewhere, the committee heard of the work of Gugan Gulwan, which is based at the old Red Hill Primary School, and we were very favourably impressed by what we heard from those people. They seem to be doing a very sound job. It is one area where it is possible to move young Aborigines and young Islanders away from some of their habits, to get them involved in some activities.

We heard also that the site in Red Hill is not really a great site. That was recognised at the time it was allocated to Gugan Gulwan. That was in the time of the Follett government. I recall the debate we had at the time. It was really an emergency. There was this group that had previously been somewhere else and that avenue changed, and overnight we had to find a place for them. They were put at Red Hill more or less as a temporary arrangement. They are still there. The people there are still doing a good job, but it not the right place. As you can imagine, Red Hill is not really a centre of high indigenous population. So Gugan Gulwan need to be located somewhere more central. I think it is an urgent task for the government to pick that up, have a look at it, and see where else might be a better spot. I ask the government to consider those two recommendations and to take note of other comments in the report.

Debate (on motion by Mr Stefaniak ) adjourned to the next sitting.

Justice And Community Safety-Standing Committee

Report No 12

MR OSBORNE (11.24): I present the following report:

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .