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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 6 Hansard (13 June) . . Page.. 1614 ..

MR MOORE: Of course I will take costs into account in making all my decisions. Because we are using money for some people with disabilities who could be taken care of by the Commonwealth, I do not have that money for other people with disabilities. In a practical way of dealing with my portfolio responsibilities, I would have to take those into account, keeping in mind as well, as I mentioned earlier in an answer to Mr Stanhope, that we have in our hospital costing us a huge amount of money-about $600 or $700 a day-19 people who are eligible to go into nursing homes, but places are not available for them. I think I can answer your question, Mr Wood, by pushing my time limit-I will speak as quickly as I can; I will not be too long-to speak about the process.

ACT Community Care gave the department three months notice that it wished to withdraw from the current arrangements for the houses. The department replied subsequently seeking ACT Community Care's commitment to continue current arrangements until alternative arrangements have been put in place. The department met with residents, their carers and advocates on 30 April 2001 to discuss future directions and to consult regarding a process for the way forward. The department has commenced a transparent planning process, working in collaboration with residents, carers, guardians and advocates to find better solutions to the issues that have arisen over the past two years.

The process will be oversighted by a steering committee chaired by Mr Daniel Stubbs, the director of ACTCOSS, and includes the following members: Belconnen Community Services, Ms Felicity White; Community Options, Mr Brian Corley; Community Connections, Ms Brenda Field; Department of Health, Housing and Community Care, Ms Glenys Beauchamp; Mr Ian Trewhella; and, as resident representatives, Mr Malcolm Cameron and Ms June Goode. The department will contract with a non-government disability agency, Community Connections, to support the steering committee and facilitate a process of working through the options with each of the residents. I think that the process is an appropriate process.

Mr Wood: I was thinking more of the process for someone wanting to go into those places.

MR MOORE: Okay. That is the appropriate process for working it out; but at the moment, while we are sorting it out, there is no process for somebody to go in. We are not accepting other people into the COOOL houses at the moment and will not look at it until that process is completed and we understand the most effective way of dealing with these issues.

Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the notice paper.

Canberra Hospital

MR MOORE: Mr Speaker, on 1 May 2001, Mr Stanhope asked me a question along slightly similar lines to the one he asked today, namely:

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