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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 9 Hansard (20 August) . . Page.. 2444 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

Finally it became apparent during the review that there are a plethora of both community advocacy groups and "watchdog" agencies with responsibilities for some aspects of the public/private NGO health sector.

Recommendation 26 of that report states:

Some rationalisation of the community advocacy and watchdog agencies is warranted.

The Gallop inquiry also made recommendations about complaints mechanisms. I am interested to know, in that context, whether the government is taking action to review these groups or agencies and, if there is one review or there are two, could we have details on that?

MR STANHOPE: Yes, we are responding to those recommendations. My colleague Mr Wood is better able to respond directly today.

MR WOOD: Yes, there will be a response as part of a very comprehensive response to the whole issue of disability services. You are correct in saying that various recommendations commented on the range of advocacy groups and support mechanisms. The Chief Minister has said that that will be attended to. I have had some broad preliminary discussions with officers-nothing of any detail or depth at this stage-about that, acknowledging that it will occur. As to the exact timetable, that will be part of more detail to come out soon enough, I would think. My memory tells me that I signed off yesterday or even today a letter to you touching on that subject, but it does not contain dates by which I can say actions will be taken because those timetables are not yet determined.

MR SPEAKER: Do you have a supplementary question, Ms Tucker.

MS TUCKER: Yes, I have two questions, but I think that only one is in order. I am interested to know how the community will be involved in the development of the terms of reference, how broadly you will be looking in the development of the terms of reference for such a review, and how it will fit in with the work of the Disability Reform Group.

MR WOOD: I would think so. The DRG would be a part of that process and would have a very significant role in it. I do not want to take any role from them. I expect that would be the primary source of consultation with the community. Certainly, that whole process arising from the Gallop inquiry has been one very broadly attending to what the community is saying. I will talk more to you about it and make sure that your concerns are accommodated in the specifics that you mention.

Hospital waiting lists

MR STEFANIAK: My question is to the Chief Minister in his capacity as Minister for Health. Minister, in the lead-up to the last election, in a document entitled "ACT Labor Priorities-Health Care Fact Sheet 3-Labor's Plan to Rebuild ACT Health", you said:

ACT Labor believes we can do better. And Labor believes we can get better value for our health care dollar.

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