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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 1 Hansard (13 December) . . Page.. 280 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

or at a time when the client has not noticed and is caught short, the consequences can be very serious. The simple, humane purpose of being able to prescribe by telephone is to prevent this.

As Ms Dundas said, the process is rigorous, it is tightly controlled, it must be formalised immediately in writing-after it is done by telephone, the prescription is made to the ACT Chief Pharmacist-and it is not often used. However, as Mr Smyth says, we are indeed dealing with drugs of dependence. We are talking about morphine, we are talking about amphetamines, we are talking about the prescription of methadone, and Mr Smyth is quite right to express his concerns about this. I would be more than happy to ensure that I am regularly apprised of how the scheme is working, and to report as appropriate. I thank the members for their support.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill agreed to in principle.

Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.

Bill agreed to.

ACTION Authority Amendment Bill 2001

Debate resumed from 11 December 2001, on motion by Mr Corbell:

MRS CROSS (6.14): What an interesting first week it has been for me, Mr Speaker. I did not think I would have a wish list that would come true, but certainly this week's has been satisfied in part. Santa said, "Helen, what is it you want for Christmas?" I said, "Santa, what I would like is to have the new government admit that some of the things that the Liberal government put in place were good, as the information technology and education statistics prove."

Mr Corbell: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: what is the relevance of this? I appreciate that it is nearly the end of this last sitting.

Mr Smyth: It is relevant to Christmas.

Mr Corbell: I realise that this is the last sitting, and I realise that it is Christmas, but if we could proceed with the debate on this bill, then I think Mrs Cross could make those other comments in the adjournment debate, which would be more appropriate.

MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Corbell. I sense that Mrs Cross was just about to come to the point.

MRS CROSS: I was, actually, Mr Speaker. Thank you for that. It is a shame that the Chief Minister is not here, because Mr Hargreaves could teach him a lot about humour. I admire Mr Hargreaves for his humour. Perhaps it will take you three years to get him to lighten up a little bit.

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