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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 13 Hansard (25 November) . . Page.. 4610 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

Indeed, it is relevant, Mr Speaker, in the context of this debate-and I thank Mr Cornwell for bringing it on-to note that in the 2003-2004 ACT budget there were a significant number of programs designed specifically to assist older Canberrans. The government allocated an additional $7 million for services and programs for older people. These funding initiatives were in addition to the ongoing recurrent funding that the government provides to its agencies.

Amongst the issues were issues such as the $411,000 that was provided to support the implementation of a multifaceted approach to addressing elder abuse in the ACT through a range of services. That actually was in response to the very detailed report which the Assembly did develop in relation to elder abuse. The government's response to that has undertaken to address the issues raised. As I say, in our last budget we did fund those initiatives.

In keeping with the government's philosophy that prevention is better than cure, we have developed and released an actively ageing framework for the ACT which aims to provide a coordinated approach to encouraging physical activity for older Canberrans. The government believes that we need to promote positive portrayals of older people. In conjunction with the Southern Cross radio network and the ACT Council on the Ageing, the government will stage this year's lifetime achievement awards, which will ensure that we do acknowledge, encourage and educate the community around the positive portrayal of older people.

We are also looking at ways of enhancing the ACT seniors card program. We are conscious indeed that some old Canberrans do face difficulties in accessing levels of appropriate accommodation and the systemic challenges of delivery of high and low-care aged persons accommodation. In relation to that specific issue which is indeed just one part of our need to address issues around ageing, my colleague Simon Corbell will provide details of steps that he particularly has taken in relation to our planning regimes, and indeed through the department of health, to address issues around availability of beds and the planning we are undertaking in a systematic and very strategic way to ensure availability of land, sites and accommodation that is appropriate to the needs of an ageing accommodation.

It is a very significant, broad-ranging and strategic approach the government has been taking. I indeed commend the minister and particularly the planning agencies and the health department in relation to planning that has been undertaken in relation to the provision of appropriate land and accommodation for older Canberrans-the only issue that Mr Cornwell focused on in this broad-ranging debate around aged care and the needs of an ageing community.

It is much more than just accommodation, as important as that is. Some very significant advances have been made, none more significant I must say-and I know Mr Corbell will address this in some detail-than the recent concessions achieved through negotiations led by the department of health in relation to the funding of transitional care beds. That is a major breakthrough that has been achieved by the department of health and the Minister for Health in relation to the care of older Canberrans-a very, very significant initiative that hasn't received the recognition that it deserves.

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