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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 03 Hansard (Tuesday, 9 March 2004) . . Page.. 904 ..

special arrangements are necessary to ensure that injured workers are not disadvantaged. Existing safety net arrangements need to be updated to provide for injury management, and to allow simpler access to benefits for injured workers.

Mr Speaker, these are just a few of the initiatives proposed in the government’s 2004 legislation program. The program reflects the government’s priorities for good governance and for responding to community needs. I look forward to the cooperation of all members in the timely consideration of these bills and I commend the program to the Assembly.

Papers

Mr Wood presented the following papers:

The Nominal Defendant (Australian Capital Territory)—2003 Annual Report, dated 9 February 2004

Subordinate Legislation (including explanatory statement unless otherwise stated)

Legislation Act, pursuant to section 64—

Mediation Act—Mediation (Approved Agency) Declaration 2004 (No 1)—Disallowable Instrument DI2004-26 (LR, 1 March 2004)

Ms Gallagher presented the following paper:

Occupational Health and Safety Act, pursuant to section 96D—operation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1989 and its associated law—quarterly report December quarter 2003

Aged care

Discussion of matter of public importance

MR SPEAKER: I received a letter from Mr Cornwell proposing that a matter of public importance be submitted to the Assembly for discussion, namely:

The current state of aged care in the ACT.

MR CORNWELL (3.37): “The great mass of people will more easily fall victim to a big lie than a small one” was said by Adolf Hitler. But I do not think he was referring to matters of public importance before us. It is becoming increasingly apparent to the people of the ACT that aged care in this city is in crisis; it is an ongoing problem. One reads about it or hears about it almost on a daily basis. Hence the reason for this matter of public importance.

We had a debate on this matter only last week. The treatment of aged care by this government is characterised by drift, indecision and the inability to understand the crisis that we are facing in this area.

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