Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .
Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 3 Hansard (13 March) . . Page.. 1020 ..
Leave granted.
MR STEFANIAK
: I move:That Scrutiny Report No 27 of the Standing Committee on Legal Affairs (performing the duties of a Scrutiny of Bills and Subordinate Legislation Committee) be authorised for publication.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Health-Standing Committee
Statement
MS TUCKER: Pursuant to standing order 246A, the Standing Committee on Health resolved on 7 March 2003 that I make a statement concerning a briefing the committee received from the Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal health centre. I seek leave to table the statement.
Leave granted.
MS TUCKER
: I table the following paper:Health - Standing Committee - Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Centre - Statement by Chair.
On 21 February 2003 the Standing Committee on Health received a briefing from Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service. The committee was concerned about the information received from Winnunga and resolved to make this statement to inform the Assembly about the briefing.
Winnunga is in dire need of increased support in order to adequately run the service. This is not a new issue. It has been raised repeatedly by Winnunga and, in the previous Assembly, was raised by the Standing Committee on Health and Community Care in its report on Aboriginal health in the ACT, the recommendations of which this government has largely agreed with.
Despite all the public statements and commitments, Winnunga is still inadequately accommodated and therefore cannot effectively service the community. They need action. The committee understands that because Winnunga derives the majority of its funding from the Commonwealth the ACT government does not have responsibility for those aspects of its functions. However, the ACT government can take responsibility for ensuring there is adequate support for Winnunga, regardless of what the Commonwealth government does.
Additionally, Winnunga estimates that 10 per cent of its client base are non-Aboriginal people who are marginalised, so therefore feel safer accessing the non-judgmental services at Winnunga. These clients are covered through existing resources, but the ACT government has a responsibility to resource the service for their care.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .