Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 03 Hansard (Wednesday, 10 March 2004) . . Page.. 1005 ..

their future needs. Some of these needs seem to be more in the way of providing a sense of support and continuity for people who have experienced a traumatic event and who are seeking stability in their lives—lives that, for many, are still dramatically disrupted.

At 5.00 pm, in accordance with standing order 34, the debate was interrupted. The motion for the adjournment of the Assembly having been put and negatived, the debate was resumed.

MR SMYTH: There are two aspects to the operations of the recovery centre that I believe are important at this time and that are the focus of my motion. First, to ensure that plans are in place for an effective transition to the usual support programs and organisations that provide the services that will be needed and, second, to ensure that the closure of the recovery centre and the transition arrangements are properly communicated to ACT residents.

The concerns expressed in Duffy last weekend are deeply felt. I believe it is incumbent on us to respond to those concerns as quickly as possible. I propose, therefore, that one of the best ways to respond to these concerns would be to continue the operations of the recovery centre until 30 June this year. At the same time, it is imperative that we use this time to consult with affected people and that appropriate options and alternatives to the services that have been available through the recovery centre are communicated and well understood by the public as we transfer. In this way, we will ensure that adequate and appropriate programs and activities are in place to provide ongoing support to people who are still deeply affected by the bushfire disaster and its aftermath.

The ACT Recovery Centre will be seen as a symbol of the magnificent way in which our community responded to the bushfire disaster. I believe it is equally important, therefore, that the transition from the specific recovery centre to more usual programs is undertaken effectively and that all the relevant arrangements are properly communicated to ACT residents.

There is an aside to this issue. On 2 August last year the following motion was moved in the Assembly:

That this Assembly calls on the Government to:

(3) outline to the Assembly, by close of business 21 August 2003, its assessment of the future needs of those affected by the bushfires in regard to counselling and other services;

I don’t recall, and a search by the staff here has been unable to find, the government’s response to that issue.

It is important that we keep in mind that the closure of the centre is not easy for some but that it must occur. We have to take into account the subheading on the front page of the Canberra Times “We haven’t been consulted: residents” and the fact that they feel they are in the dark. If the government have been out there doing the job—I am sure the Chief Minister will outline what they have done—it hasn’t been as effective as it could have been or it hasn’t worked at all. With that in mind, on behalf of the community I think it is quite appropriate that we, as an Assembly, say to the government that it is appropriate to

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .