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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 12 Hansard (13 November) . . Page.. 3599 ..

MS TUCKER (9.10): I am a bit concerned about Mr Wood's response. In summing up, he said that the government were happy to produce a report which showed what they were doing and what they planned to do. That sounded good, but then he said that we were attempting to augment after-hours services. Clearly my motion covers much broader concerns than after-hours services. Of course, we commend the fact that there is now a service at Calvary, but there has to be more in other places. It is about bulk-billing, which I think I have made pretty clear in this motion.

While I accept the amendment because I think the will is there to produce proposals for future action with time lines, which is what the amendment says, if the future actions are just to augment after-hours services, I will be back here calling for a strategy. Clearly we need to see a much stronger response.

Mr Wood said, "We intend to do everything in our power to meet the health needs of the people of Canberra."A lot needs to be done to meet the health needs of people in Canberra who are on a low income. That is why I put this motion. So I am putting the government on notice that if we get a very small document telling us what we already know then I will bring this matter back.

Amendment agreed to.

Motion, as amended, agreed to.

Adjournment

Motion (by Mr Wood ) proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

Cerebral palsy

MR SMYTH (9.12): Mr Speaker, I wish to bring to the attention of members tonight that, on average, every fortnight another baby with cerebral palsy is born in Canberra Hospital, and that adds to the over 800 families already affected by this condition. But, rather than just talk about it, I want to talk specifically about one family and their response to having a child born to them with cerebral palsy. This is a family, I think, of great courage and a family that needs to be brought to the attention of Canberrans simply because their answer was to get out and do something, not for themselves, but for all those families affected by cerebral palsy in the ACT.

It is the Boulding family, and particularly Leah Boulding, who is the mother of young Chelsea, who has cerebral palsy. On 31 August this year, she and her family organised the Hart of Gold Dinner. It is spelt "H-a-r-t", because it was to raise money for Hart Walkers. Leah set herself the target that night of raising $20,000 with a view to buying two of these Hart Walkers and donating them to the Spastic Centre of the ACT. I am pleased to report to the Assembly that they raised not $20,000 but more like $35,000-in a single night. The family that organised this comprises Leah Boulding, who is Chelsea's mum, her husband, Darren, who supports her in all of this, Chelsea's dad, and their six beautiful children. There are also their extended family and friends, particularly Kylie, Kellie, Emma and Leah's mum.

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