Page 3432 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 14 November 2006
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Carers have made a number of important statements about Mental Health ACT. We have noted that the Mental Illness Fellowship of the ACT Inc. was set up by people who care for children with a mental illness. Many of these children are now adults. I am aware and acknowledge that there is a very thorough process going on at the moment, the review of the Mental Health Act. This is something that is happening in tandem with that. Carers have outlined to our Minister for Health that they are dealing with a crisis-driven mental health service, whereas they need a mental health service that needs to be their ally and assist them in caring for people and that the carers themselves need care.
While carers of children with mental health issues or of relatives with mental health issues are perhaps one of the most challenged groups of carers, we also need to acknowledge that parents are still carers. We have grandmothers in the community who are caring for their children’s children. We also have many people who are caring for elderly people or at least being their advocates and overseeing the care that their elderly parents get. Often their parents are no longer able to advocate for themselves in residential aged care units and in the home. This is going to be a growing issue and one that I hope that the government seriously considers and is responsive to so that we make sure that this territory provides the best possible care, not just for the people who need it but for the people who care for the people who need it.
MRS BURKE (Molonglo) (12.22): I am very limited as to what I can say today by my vocal chords, but I certainly put on the public record my acknowledgment of the government’s work on this. Albeit that it has been a little lengthy in coming, we have finally got to a point today that better supports and acknowledges the work of carers.
Dr Foskey made some very good points, particularly in relation to the government being able to provide an update on the draft national health privacy code. It has been an issue that has been raised with me as well. In terms of access to information for carers, it is a very difficult area. I understand that it is one that places any government in a very difficult situation to legislate against.
I reiterate: whilst we have waited a while for this, I really am grateful to the government for the work it has done and obviously to voluntary carers for the work they have put into it for the department, because we need to keep this issue well in the spotlight. As Dr Foskey said, it is going to be a growing issue and one that we need to focus more clearly on and have good direction on. I thank the Assembly for that.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Minister for Planning) (12.23), in reply: I thank members for their support of this legislation. As members have indicated, this legislation is the result of an extensive review process that was commenced by the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services in late 2004 and has resulted in a number of important changes to the legislative framework that protects and provides support for carers.
Rather than go through the detail again, as I have already dealt with that in my presentation speech, I simply address a couple of the issues raised in the debate, in
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